13 hours ago
The airport that could fall below sea level by 2056
Kansai International Airport, built on manmade islands in Japan 's Osaka Bay, once celebrated as a marvel of engineering, is experiencing significant subsidence problems, having sunk over 42 feet since its 1994 opening, far exceeding initial predictions.
The airport's ongoing sinking is primarily attributed to its construction atop a seabed composed of soft alluvial clay, which compresses under the immense weight of the artificial islands.
Engineers have implemented extensive and costly measures, including sand drains and reinforced seawalls, successfully reducing the subsidence rate from 19 inches annually in 1994 to 2.3 inches in 2023.
Despite these mitigation efforts, experts warn that parts of the airport could fall below sea level by 2056 if the current rate of sinking continues.
The airport also faces additional risks from climate change and storm surges, as evidenced by Typhoon Jebi in 2018, which caused significant flooding and a two-week shutdown.
