Mexico City continues to rapidly sink, and this process is already being recorded from space. NASA satellite data shows that the city is sinking at a rate of about 25 centimeters per year, making it one of the fastest 'sinking' megacities in the world.
According to the Associated Press news agency, citing a report from NASA Earth Observatory, the cause is a combination of intense groundwater extraction and geological features - the city is built on the site of an ancient lake. This has led to the near-total depletion of the aquifer and the gradual destruction of the soil.
According to scientists, the consequences are already affecting key infrastructure: subways, roads, water supply systems, and residential buildings where about 22 million people live. In some areas, the level of subsidence has reached more than 12 meters, and in places, nearly 39 meters.
The situation is worsening: while in the 19th century the ground sank by about 5 cm per year, the rate has now increased several times. NASA's new radar system has allowed for tracking surface changes every 12 days, effectively in real-time.
Experts warn that in addition to the risk of destruction, the city may face a serious drinking water shortage if the situation is not brought under control soon. The news agency reported that without urgent measures to stabilize the soil, Mexico City could face irreversible consequences for its urban infrastructure.
