Thousands Apply To Flee Sinking Island Nation

Half of Tuvalu wants out.

More than 5,000 people from the tiny Pacific nation have applied for Australia's new climate visa program—the first of its kind anywhere. With only 280 spots available each year, competition is fierce. Winners get picked by lottery through January 2026.

The numbers tell the story. Tuvalu sits just six feet above the ocean. Some parts of these coral atolls stretch only a few dozen feet from shore to shore. The country's highest point? Fifteen feet. That's it.

Running Out of Time

NASA satellites show the water has already climbed six inches around Tuvalu since 1995. By 2050, high tides will cover much of the country's land and roads. Another 2.5 feet of rise is coming in the next 75 years, according to current projections.