A village in the coast of Macuata is contemplating to relocate to a new site due to destruction caused by the rise in sea level.

Raviravi villager Josateki Malatua says the very same sea they depend on for their livelihood, will eventually make them leave their homes.

Malatua says the rising sea level has been intruding into their homes and their plantations over the last three decades.

The 65 year-old clearly remembers planting root crops in the area that is now the village foreshore, adding the foreshore has moved about 30 meters inland in over the last 30 years alone.

Malatua says they have erected several barriers to act as a seawall but the waves keep taking them down.

He adds it’s been years now since they have requested for a seawall to be built along the foreshore but no help has been forthcoming.

Malatua says the landowners have identified a land they can relocate to but moving all the homes will be too costly for them.

With help from NGO’s the villagers have started mangrove planting to save their village shoreline from further eroding.