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Rising sea levels have caused Panama to [evacuate / vacate] the residents of one of its islands. The inhabitants of the [tinny / tiny] Gardi Sugdub island off Panama's Caribbean [coastal / coast] are being relocated to the mainland. However, a Panamanian government [official / officially] said some people are refusing to vacate their ancestral home. They will stay until [the / an] absolute last minute. Panama's government said Gardi Sugdub is a sign of things to [come / go] as more low-lying islands are under threat from being [engrossed / engulfed] by the ocean. A recent study by Panama's Environment Ministry estimated the country [must / would] lose 2.01 per cent of its coastal territory to rising sea levels. It [plussed / added] that 38,000 people will need to be relocated at a [cost / coast] of about $1.2 billion.

Gardi Sugdub has been [house / home] to the indigenous Guna people for generations. The [overcrowded / overcrowding] island is just 366 metres long and 137 metres [wide / width] , but was home to nearly 300 families. They [relayed / relied] on fishing and tourism to make [the / a] living. Islander Nadin Morales, 24, said: "We're a little sad…but the sea is sinking the island little [by / of] little." She added: "Lately, I've [appeared / seen] that climate change has had a major impact.…The tide comes to a level [it / they] didn't before, and the heat is unbearable." Ms Morales said she hopes her community will [prosperity / prosper] in its new location. Her new home will be in a $12 million government development two kilometres from the port from [which / what] boats go to Gardi Sugdub.