Residents of Tuvalu seek escape to Australia as island continues to sink

A third of residents on the sinking Polynesian island nation of Tuvalu went off, but not all can leave for nearby Australia

The attempt to flee comes as the island is just about six and a half feet above sea level

and scientists warn it may be lost to the sea due to rising ocean levels caused by climate change

Located between Hawaii and Australia, and known for its scenic beauty and diverse marine life

more than 11,000 people call the country home, but parts of the nation are already under rising

water. With the country likely uninhabitable within decades, residents are turning to the

Australian government for help, which in late 2023 agreed to take in residence from Tuvalu

through a treaty. Under this treaty, so-called climate visas are allowed for up to 280 residents

annually to relocate to Australia with access to permanent housing, health care, education

and work, with applications opening for the first time this month. Since applications opened for Australia's lottery visa, more than 1,100 people have

registered with family members bringing the total number looking to relocate to more than 4 Many residents are now eager to see if they were among the nearly 300 chosen for a visa The deadline for applications is July 18th

The cap on visas is to keep from harming the island nation through brain drain

The phased migration is also to ensure Tuvalu retains its statehood even if physical boundaries are gone

Australia has committed to defend the nation and offer eventual disaster relief

NASA predicts by 2050, daily tides will leave half of the nation's main atoll underwater

which is currently home to 60 percent of the population. The space agency says worst-case scenario, 90 percent of the region is submerged

Tuvalu has seen sea levels rise roughly six inches over the past three decades

which is one and a half times greater than the worldwide average. Scientists say most of the country will be submerged by the end of the century

The nation's government, meanwhile, has built 17 acres of artificial land and is expected to construct more as it hopes to stay above water until at least 2,100

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For Shader News, I'm Kaylee Carey