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yesterday

New Satellite Maps Show Parts of Mexico City Sinking More Than 2 Centimeters a Month

Engineers link the drop to heavy groundwater pumping.

People attend a rally in remembrance of 1968 Tlatelolco student massacre, in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo, Tuesday Oct. 2, 2018. Authorities raised the giant, iconic Mexican flag to half-mast in Mexico City's main square in commemoration of the 1968 massacre of student protesters by army troops 50 years ago. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
La NASA observa por primera vez desde el espacio el rápido hundimiento de Ciudad de México: más de 2 cm por mes
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Las limitaciones del suelo han condicionado históricamente la construcción y el crecimiento urbano, y advirtió que hoy el reto es mejorar la medición —combinando tecnología satelital y monitoreo local— para proteger tanto el patrimonio como la infraestructura.

Overview

  • NISAR radar maps from October 2025 to January 2026 show several zones dropping about 2 centimeters a month, with some sinking faster.
  • The satellite pinpoints hotspots including Benito Juárez International Airport, the capital’s main air hub.
  • Researchers at UNAM and leaders at the civil engineers’ college say over‑extraction of the aquifer beneath the former lakebed drives the subsidence.
  • Street cracks, tilted buildings, and rail damage are common, and the Ángel de la Independencia now has 14 extra steps to keep its entrance level.
  • City risk officials and university teams are building a subsurface database and updating the risk atlas to guide water management, targeted fixes, and continuous satellite and local monitoring.