Panama’s first climate exodus: Gardi Sugdub left empty as rising seas claim Caribbean homes

AI Summary

Gardi Sugdub, a Panamanian island inhabited by the Guna Indigenous community, has been largely abandoned due to rising sea levels attributed to climate change. Around 1,200 residents relocated to government-built housing on the mainland, leaving behind a silent island with empty schools and homes. While some, like Delfino Davies and Mayka Tejada, remain, the majority have left for the new settlement, Isber Yala. Gardi Sugdub is one of many islands in the Guna Yala archipelago at risk of disappearing by the end of the century. Some remaining residents, like Luciana Perez, refuse to leave, expressing skepticism about scientific predictions.