The Sinking of Mexico City: A Looming Catastrophe

Mexico City, with over 128 million inhabitants, is home to nearly 10% of the population in one of the world's most dangerous areas. The city faces a natural threat, a sinking phenomenon that poses a significant risk to its residents.

Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate, potentially dropping up to 30 meters from its current level. This sinking poses a severe threat, equivalent to the height of iconic landmarks like the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil or a third of the Angel of Independence monument.

Mexico City was founded in a precarious location, built on top of a former lake. As the underground water depletes, the land subsides, leading to the city's sinking. This engineering oversight is not unique to Mexico, as other cities like Venice, Tokyo, and Beijing face similar challenges.

In 1325, before the Spanish arrival, Mexico City, then known as Tenochtitlan, was founded by the Mexica people on an island in Lake Texcoco. The city's origin myth, guided by a prophecy of an eagle on a cactus, led to the establishment of the grand city, which later became the capital of a vast Mesoamerican empire.

Tenochtitlán, the capital of the country, was not built on top of a lake but rather utilized the natural resources intelligently. It was constructed by the Mexicas using canals and chinampas, resembling a Venice-like city. The Mexicas did not drain the lake as it served as a military defense barrier. Chinampas were used for food distribution. The Mexicas' concept was to live in harmony with nature, not to cover water with cement.

After the Spanish conquest, the Spaniards waged war against water, altering the Aztec system. They replaced dams and canals with streets and squares, drained Lake Texcoco, deforested forests to expand the city, leading to floods and a population decline. The city's population grew from 300,000 to 21 million, with the city's area expanding from 80 to 8,000 square kilometers in 70 years.

Mexico City's rapid modern development, exacerbated by vehicular pollution, has led to the disappearance of original lakes and depletion of underground aquifers. The city's expansion over the ancient Lake Texcoco has caused accelerated sinking. The city's surface area increased from 80 to 8,000 square kilometers in 70 years, contributing to environmental degradation.

Mexico City is experiencing alarming subsidence rates, with areas like the Zócalo sinking 8 centimeters per year. The uneven sinking poses risks such as flooding, leaks, water contamination, and damage to infrastructure like the metro system and sewage lines. Some areas may sink up to 30 meters in the coming years, leading to severe consequences for the city's stability.

The land subsidence in Mexico City is causing an alarming collapse, leading to dangerous and even fatal accidents such as sinkholes, uplift of inhabited areas, unexpected building collapses, and loss of communication routes. This has resulted in significant financial and human losses, with the city sinking further each time the water level beneath the red circle decreases.

Due to the perpetual water scarcity in Mexico City, residents have continued to extract water from underground aquifers, leading to the sinking of buildings and constructions. A recent study predicts that 10% of Mexicans aged 15 to 65 may attempt to migrate due to water scarcity, displacing millions of people and causing them to lose their homes.

The land subsidence around the iconic monument 'El Ángel de la Independencia' in Mexico City has been so severe that fourteen large steps had to be built at its base to connect it to the sinking street. If the subsidence continues, at least 200 more steps may need to be constructed to access the statue's base.

Many historic buildings in the heart of Mexico City's historic center are experiencing severe subsidence, causing them to appear as if drawn with endless curves. The city sinks at a rate of 50 centimeters per year, far surpassing Venice's annual subsidence rate of two millimeters.

Experts suggest that while reversing the consequences of land subsidence is nearly impossible, investing in an efficient rainwater collection system could help slow down the sinking. By reducing dependence on underground water sources, the city could mitigate the accelerating danger to its infrastructure.

Mexico City faces unique geological challenges due to being built on a combination of volcanic soil and ancient lakebeds, particularly in areas like the historic center. The city's location on clay and volcanic terrain makes it highly susceptible to sinking and damage.

The city of Mexico City was originally a protected natural area unsuitable for urban development. However, modern Mexico allowed construction in these protected zones, leading to uneven and accelerated sinking of the city, causing significant damage.

Tokyo, Japan, faced similar sinking issues in the late 19th century, sinking up to 4 meters per year. By prioritizing sustainable water policies and aquifer management, Tokyo successfully halted its sinking. Mexico City should learn from Tokyo's example and attract top engineers to implement similar solutions to mitigate its sinking problem.