‘Sheer weight’ of cities is pushing famous locations under water, study warns
A recent study warns that the weight of urban areas is contributing to their sinking, exacerbating the risks of rising sea levels. Major cities like Jakarta and Tianjin are experiencing significant subsidence, with Jakarta sinking at a rate of 13.7 millimeters per year. The study highlights the need for improved water management to mitigate these effects and protect vulnerable coastal populations.
- ▪The sheer weight of cities is causing them to sink, increasing flood risks.
- ▪Jakarta is sinking at a rate of 13.7 millimeters per year, with 40% of its area already below sea level.
- ▪Excessive groundwater extraction is a major driver of land subsidence in coastal cities.
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Environment ‘Sheer weight’ of cities is pushing famous locations under water, study warns By Ben Cost Published May 19, 2026, 2:36 p.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Post on Google It leaves a sinking feeling. Rising seas aren’t the only flood risk afoot on Earth. Scientists have found that the planet’s most populated metropolises are sinking under their own weight, leaving millions of people at risk of going into the drink. This worldwide urban subsidence has the potential to amplify the effect of “sea-level rise,” according to the study’s lead author Dr. Julius Oelsmann, of Technical University of Munich.
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