China's cities are sinking, and the risk of flooding is increasing. Several million residents are affected by the alarming development.
In Shanghai alone, some areas have sunk by up to three meters in the last century. Due to the combination of ground subsidence and rising sea levels, around a quarter of the areas there could sink below sea level in the next hundred years. This would pose a significant flood risk to large populations. There is also direct damage to buildings, foundations, infrastructure, and sewage systems. The east coast of the USA is also at risk of sinking into the sea. The researchers warn that the subsidence could have long-term consequences, especially in densely populated coastal regions. Around 270 million of them live on subsiding land. In recent decades, subsidence-related disasters in China have caused hundreds of deaths and injuries annually, as well as immense economic damage.