world
Mexico City Sinks Up to 2cm a Month as NASA Satellite Tracks Subsidence
NASA's NISAR satellite has produced detailed radar maps showing parts of Mexico City, including its main airport, are subsiding by more than 2 centimetres per month. The phenomenon, caused by groundwater extraction from the ancient lake bed beneath the capital, has tilted historic buildings and damaged infrastructure for more than a century.
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NASA's NISAR satellite has captured new radar images showing that sections of Mexico City are sinking by more than 2cm a month, one of the fastest subsidence rates recorded anywhere in the world. The data, gathered between October 2025 and January 2026, reveal the extent and variation of the sinking across different types of land in the metropolis of about 22 million people.
Dark blue areas on the maps indicate zones subsiding fastest, including the city's main airport. Walking into the capital’s sprawling central Zócalo presents a dizzying sight. These leaning historic structures are the most visible evidence of a process documented since 1925.
The Angel of Independence monument on Paseo de la Reforma has required 14 additional steps at its base since its completion in 1910 because the surrounding ground has gradually dropped. The statue stands as one of the clearest examples of the city's descent.
Impacts appear across the urban landscape. Tilting buildings, warping roads and damage to the underground metro system have all been linked to the subsidence. An engineer at the National Autonomous University of Mexico said the problem affects streets, water distribution pipes, drainage systems and the overall urban infrastructure.
The sinking stems from centuries of groundwater pumping. Built on the bed of an ancient lake, the city sits atop soft, clay-like soil. When water is withdrawn faster than natural recharge from rainfall, the aquifer compacts under the weight of the structures above.
The underground aquifer still supplies about half the capital's water. As pumping has intensified, the water table has fallen by roughly 40cm a year. This in turn cracks ageing pipes, causing the city to lose an estimated 40 percent of its water through leakage.
Years of below-average rainfall linked to the climate crisis have compounded the strain. Experts warn the combination of subsidence and reduced water availability could lead to a scenario in which taps in large parts of the city run dry. Limited measures have been taken so far, mainly focused on reinforcing foundations of ancient buildings.
