Nasau Village: Out of Sight and Under Siege
Sea inundation is a frequent problem when there are high tide occurrences, but for the past week, it has been quite unusual.
Monday 03 January 2022 | 15:18
Nasau Village headman Ionisio Navosese shows the depth of the seawater when the tide rises. The foreground shows the remains of a house foundation. Photo: Kelera Sovasiga
79-year-old Lolo Marama has been around long enough to see the impacts of changing weather patterns.
Her heart breaks as she recalls the homes that have been lost or taken apart along the Nasau Village foreshore due to the rise in seawater level.
“Now as you look out, you can only see the foundations of the homes – others have gone underwater,” Ms Marama said.
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“I have seen so many changes. Before, there were homes about 10 meters out from the current shoreline – but because of the rise in sea level within the past 10 to 15 years, homes have been destroyed and families have had to move further inland.”
The combined flow from the nearby river and the strong sea currents causes coastal erosion and loss of land was Ms Marama’s explanation of their dilemna.
79-year-old Lolo Marama tells about the constant changes shé's witnessed over the years. On the right, she can only sit and watch the tide rise from her living room.
- This story was first published on Saturday December 11, 2021 and appeared in the Fiji Sun Climate Watch column.
