Panama's sinking islands

Carti Sugtupu island is located in the Caribbean Sea, 1,200 metres away from Panama’s north coast. It’s a tiny island with little space for houses. Some of them are built over the water.

Two thousand Guna people live there. Life on the island is tough. There’s no electricity, little drinking water and no private toilets. The people earn money from fishing, making traditional clothes and tourism.

But things are changing. They’re moving to the mainland. Magdalena Martinez is excited to move.

Magdalena Martínez: "We want a home where we can live with dignity, with electricity 24 hours a day, with drinking water all day long, because here we have to collect water from the rivers. So, it would be a good thing for us. But there's also the cost. Here, we pay nothing."

The people have to move to the mainland because of climate change.

Steven Paton says the sea level is rising and the island will sink.

Steven Paton: "This is an example of one of the islands. It was at an altitude of only half a metre, but with the current sea level rise, this island will not last longer than 20 or 30 years, at the most."

Panama’s government has built a new town with a school on the mainland. The plan is to move 300 Guna families there. Braulio Navarro is happy to start a new life.

Braulio Navarro: "Oh, I've been waiting for it for a long time. Yes, I'm happy, I'm happy! I want to move quickly. Yes, it's true because I know we will be better off there. I know it will be a bit difficult at first, but little by little we will get used to it. That's what I think. Yes, I'm happy."

The Guna people are happy about their new homes, but they’re worried their lifestyle will die. But Magdalena Martinez is positive that the traditions will continue.

Magdalena Martínez: "Yes, this will change our lifestyle quite a bit. But I want to make it clear that it won't change our spirit, it won't change our habits, it won't change our way of being." View Less