Environment · 2026-10-31 · Morning briefing

Global survey: 465 major cities are sinking by inches each year

A comprehensive new survey has found that 465 of the world's largest urban areas are sinking, some by several inches annually. The study, published in Nature Cities, used satellite radar data from 2014 to 2023 to track the phenomenon, known as subsidence. The primary cause is the extensive pumping of groundwater by industries and utilities, which removes the underlying support for the soil, causing it to sag.

The sinking is most severe in parts of Asia and North America, with hotspots including Jakarta, Mexico City, and New Orleans. The damage is often structural, as uneven subsidence can crack building foundations, break sewer lines, and damage subway systems, while significantly exacerbating the risk of flooding. In Jakarta, the problem has become so acute that Indonesia is relocating its capital city to the island of Borneo.

While the process is described as "cumulative and largely irreversible," the study notes that continued sinking can be halted. Tokyo, which once subsided faster than many cities do today, successfully stopped its descent by regulating groundwater extraction and shifting to surface water sources. Similarly, Beijing and Tianjin have arrested their sinking in some areas by piping in water from the Yangtze River basin.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

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• The major cities found sinking across the world
• Cities worldwide are sinking
• Cities across the world are sinking because of groundwater depletion, but the process can be reversed
• Cities are sinking – but citywide averages hide the real problem
• Sinking cities: land subsidence is doubling sea level rise on populated coasts

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