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Sinking cities

How to save our cities from going under

Published on May 17, 2023

Cities across Asia are developing at such an astounding rate, the pressure on water tables is causing many to slip into oblivion.

Large-scale flooding due to climate change and rapid development has become more frequent over the past three years. : James Goldie for 360info CC BY 4.0 Large-scale flooding due to climate change and rapid development has become more frequent over the past three years. : James Goldie for 360info CC BY 4.0
Authors James Goldie
Data and Digital Storytelling Lead, 360info

Editors S. Vicknesan
Senior Commissioning Editor, 360info Southeast Asia

DOI 10.54377/dc14-bd49

Cities across Asia are developing at such an astounding rate, the pressure on water tables is causing many to slip into oblivion.

Coastal cities in Southeast Asia are sinking the fastest, scientists have discovered.

This coupled with rising sea levels and weather changes will worsen the severity of flooding in prone areas.

What form solutions should take would depend on the nature of the cities affected. 360info looks into what would work best to avert future disasters and why the time to act is now even if it means moving.

Originally published under Creative Commons by 360info™.

Editors Note: In the story “Sinking cities” sent at: 15/05/2023 09:26.

This is a corrected repeat. Minor fix to map embed to facilitate sharing.

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In this Special Report

Jakarta’s sinking problem began in the 1970s and ties in directly with the number of groundwater extraction wells drilled during the period. : Floods in South Jakarta by Voice of America is available at https://bit.ly/3AXvSgI CC-BY-SA-3.0

Deep groundwater extraction wells are built by the business elites for commercial value. Better transparency will help manage them more sustainably.

How Jakarta has dug itself into a hole
Climate change is expected to accelerate sea-level rise and coastal cities such as Shanghai are most at risk of increased flooding. : Flood in Shanghai by Carsten Ullrich is available at https://bit.ly/3NGwcbl CC BY-SA 2.0

More than half the city will be under 1.2 metres of flood waters by the end of this century if action is not taken now.

Rising sea levels could swamp sinking Shanghai
The land around Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport has sunk dramatically over the years. : Rehman Abubakr CCBY4.0

As more cities sink, rethinking how we use groundwater can ease pressure on precious aquifers.

If we’re smart about water, we can stop our cities sinking
To stop cities from sinking, groundwater has to be replenished and the soil in construction sites strengthened. : Brisbane flood by Stephenk1977 is available at https://bit.ly/3LVbFOT CC BY 2.0

Artificial recharge and deep soil mixing are two techniques showing promise in rescuing sinking cities.

Two ways to fight land subsidence
Jakarta is taking action to stop further sinking : “Mendung di Jakarta” by Koran Anak Indonesia is available at https://bit.ly/3HuOXuo CC by 2.0

Stopping Jakarta sinking cannot happen overnight, but the city is finally taking the action needed to stop groundwater extraction.

Jakarta acts to stop being the next Atlantis
An artist’s impression of what the Oceanix Busan prototype being built in South Korea would look like. : OCEANIX/BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group Media are permitted to reproduce this image with attribution: https://oceanix.com/media/

Floating cities are emerging as a possible solution for residents of many of the world’s sinking megacities, if they can be built and operated sustainably.

If your city is sinking, why not make it float?
Interactive: which cities are sinking? : James Goldie, 360info CC BY 4.0
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Interactive: where are cities sinking?

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Interactive: where are cities sinking?

How Jakarta has dug itself into a hole

Deep groundwater extraction wells are built by the business elites for commercial value. Better transparency will help manage them more sustainably.

Jakarta acts to stop being the next Atlantis

Stopping Jakarta sinking cannot happen overnight, but the city is finally taking the action needed to stop groundwater extraction.

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