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A study published by the journal Nature Cities revealed that hundreds of major cities around the world are facing the phenomenon of land subsidence, after analyzing data from 465 cities with populations exceeding one million, using satellite imagery between 2014 and 2023.
The results showed a variation in subsidence rates, with the fastest rates recorded in cities in Southeast Asia, Mexico, and South Asia.
The cities of Medan and Bandung in Indonesia topped the list, with a subsidence rate ranging between 2 and 3 centimeters per year, while the cities of Torreón and Mexico City in Mexico recorded rates of 1.7 and 0.8 centimeters per year, respectively.
Other cities included Isfahan and Mashhad in Iran, Florianópolis in Brazil, Yangon in Myanmar, Tianjin in China, and Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh, with subsidence rates ranging between 0.3 and 1.6 centimeters per year.
Researchers link this phenomenon to several factors, most notably the excessive extraction of groundwater and long-term geological changes, warning of its potential repercussions on infrastructure and increased flood risks in some areas.
Scientists hope that the study's findings will help local authorities develop plans to mitigate the risks of land subsidence and protect cities and their inhabitants.
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