(C) BoingBoing
This story was originally published by BoingBoing and is unaltered.
 . . . . . . . . . .



Panama evacuating densely-populated islands as sea levels rise [1]

['Rob Beschizza']

Date: 2024-06-03  

Gardi Sugdub, population 1,171, is a densely-populated island off the coast of Panama. Facing the prospect of catastrophic inundation, the government is eminent-domaining the whole thing and evacuating the inhabitants. The cost: $1.2bn, though that will cover costs for the rest of the archipelago.

Every year, especially when the strong winds whip up the sea in November and December, water fills the streets and enters the homes. Climate change isn't only leading to a rise in sea levels, but it's also warming oceans and thereby powering stronger storms.

The Gunas have tried to reinforce the island's edge with rocks, pilings and coral, but seawater keeps coming.

"Lately, I've seen that climate change has had a major impact," Morales said. "Now the tide comes to a level it didn't before, and the heat is unbearable."

[END]
---
[1] Url: https://boingboing.net/2024/06/03/panama-evacuating-densely-populated-islands-as-sea-levels-rise.html

Published and (C) by BoingBoing
Content appears here under this condition or license: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA 3.0.

via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/boingboing/