Mexico City is sinking at a rate that is visible from space. According to NASA's radar system, in certain areas the ground is dropping by more than 10 centimeters a year.
From October 2025 to January 2026, the NISAR satellite monitored surface movement beneath the city during the dry season. The study revealed that some areas of the metropolis are sinking by more than 23 centimeters a year.
Mexico City is located on the site of an ancient lake and relies on an aquifer that provides about 60% of the drinking water for its 22 million residents. Due to years of active groundwater extraction, the underground layers are being depleted, and the ground continues to sink.
Experts link this process to a chronic water crisis. If consumption rates do not change, the city may face an even more severe water shortage.
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