When Oil Reached the Taro Patches: The Salvation Army Responds to the Chuuk Lagoon Crisis

When an oil leak from a sunken World War II shipwreck contaminated parts of Chuuk Lagoon, it quickly disrupted daily life for hundreds of families on Uman Island. Fishing grounds and taro patches—key local food sources—were among the first to be affected.

“The oil spill surged into their taro patches and destroyed their source of food and water,” said Major Taylor Santos of The Salvation Army. “Now a month after the leak began, there remains great humanitarian need for people who depend on the lagoon’s waters.”

In mid-September, the Chuuk State and FSM National Government declared a state of emergency, prompting The Salvation Army to mobilize quickly. On October 9, officers delivered three weeks’ worth of food and essential supplies to more than 600 people in the Uman villages of Nepononong and Nesarau. The distribution included rice, ramen, biscuits, flour, sugar, canned fish, soy sauce, water, and butane.

“The Salvation Army is honored to walk alongside the people of the Federated States of Micronesia for thirty years, providing community-responsive care to meet the greatest needs—from youth and family programs to emergency services,” said Major Troy Trimmer, Divisional Commander for The Salvation Army’s Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division. “Immediately following the news of the oil leak in Chuuk Lagoon, our local officers connected with FSM government and community leaders to assess the specifics of the situation and ensure the deployment of the most meaningful support.”

The response was led by Major Eric Tumale, The Salvation Army Guam Corps officer and Micronesia Coordinator, together with Major Santos, who is currently serving in an interim leadership role at the Chuuk Corps on Weno.

“We are committed to serving the people of Chuuk every day, and to working alongside our wonderful local partners in uplifting the community throughout this crisis,” said Major Tumale. “With the impact felt directly at the dinner tables for many Chuuk families, our priority is ensuring that no one goes hungry or without essentials. We are meeting these challenges head on with compassion and action.”

The Chuuk government provided logistics support, and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) handled transportation. Local volunteers from the Chuuk Youth Council and Micronesian Legal Services joined in to pack, load, and deliver the supplies, while the Rotary Club of Pohnpei contributed funds to support the effort.

Although the leak has been temporarily patched, more than 60 deteriorating WWII shipwrecks still lie in Chuuk Lagoon—each containing thousands of liters of oil and posing ongoing environmental risks to surrounding communities.

To learn more about The Salvation Army’s disaster response and programs across the Pacific, visit hawaii.salvationarmy.org. Donations to support local relief efforts can also be made directly on the site.