The Shrinking Island Being Swallowed By The Sea
a shadow of one’s former self: someone or something that is no longer as good or powerful as it used to be
Nyangai Island was once a beautiful island with lush forests and wide beaches. Climate change has turned it into a shadow of its former self.
Kpana Charlie, a 62-year-old fisherman, has watched his beloved island shrink. Where there were once forests and soccer fields, now there is only water. His childhood home is almost gone, swallowed by the sea. The island, once 2,300 feet across, is now just 300 feet.
Charlie and his family now live in a simple house made of sticks and plastic tarps. “It’s getting worse,” he says. The high water floods their home often. This didn’t happen before.
Many people have left Nyangai for safer places. There were once over 500 homes. Now, there are only 70. For those who remain, life is hard.
Experts warn that without action, the experiences of Nyangai’s residents could become commonplace, affecting millions in low-lying areas.
Sample sentences
1. After the long illness, the energetic teacher was a shadow of his former self, moving slowly and speaking softly.
2. The grand old hotel, known for its luxury, had become a shadow of its former self, with faded carpets and dim lights.
3. Once a boxing champion, he now was as a shadow of his former self, telling stories of his past glory.
Read More:
A disappearing island: ‘The water is destroying us, one house at a time’
