Eroding Alaska island village votes to move to mainland

Residents of a tiny island village in Alaskathat has been ravaged by erosion blamed on climate change have votedto move to the mainland, but there likely isn't enough money for theimpoverished community of just 600 people to follow through on thedecision.

The Inupiat Eskimo village of Shishmaref, which sits just northof the Bering Strait, has been identified as one of Alaska's mosteroded communities.

Officials held a special electionTuesdayasking residents ifthey should develop a new community at a nearby mainland location orstay put with added environmental protections. Unofficial ballotreturns show 89 voted for the move, while 78 opted to stay.

A cityclerk said the count does not include absentee or special needsballots.

Either option comes with a daunting price tag. A 2004 Army Corpsof Engineers study put the cost of relocating to the mainland at$180 million US.Staying in place would cost $110 million US.

The village has been exploring relocation since the mid-1970s. Itvoted to move in 2002, but money also was an issue then.Tuesday'svote likely amounts to an advisory opinion.

Afeasibility study released in February looked at all potentialoptions. It suggested the vote would allow agencies that may providefunding to move forward with further research on how best to savethe community.

Shishmaref Mayor Howard Weyiouanna Sr. told The Associated Presslast month that some sort of solution must be found.

"Doing nothing is not an option," he said.