Mexico City is sinking at an alarming rate—nearly 10 inches (24 cm) per year—due to the ongoing depletion of its underground aquifer, according to new data from NASA’s NISAR satellite. Built on the drained bed of Lake Texcoco, the city has been subsiding for over a century, but satellite measurements from late 2025 to early 2026 reveal the severity: some areas, including the international airport and the Angel of Independence monument, are sinking at 0.78 inches (2 cm) per month. This rapid ground collapse threatens critical infrastructure like water systems, drainage, subways, and historic buildings such as the Metropolitan Cathedral, which has visibly tilted over time.

The problem stems from decades of excessive groundwater extraction to meet the needs of the city’s 22 million residents across 3,000 square miles. As the aquifer shrinks, the soil compacts, causing irreversible subsidence. Researchers like Enrique Cabral from Mexico’s National Autonomous University warn this is one of the fastest sinking urban areas on Earth, with some parts having dropped more than 39 feet (12 meters) over the past century. The crisis also deepens the city’s chronic water shortages, as sinking ground damages pipelines and reduces water access.

NASA’s NISAR satellite, a joint mission with India’s space agency, uses advanced radar to detect surface changes in real time, offering unprecedented detail. Scientists hope this data will guide long-term mitigation strategies and be applied globally to monitor natural disasters, fault lines, and climate impacts. While past government efforts focused only on stabilizing individual landmarks, recent water emergencies have spurred more research funding. Experts stress that understanding the full scope of subsidence is the essential first step toward solutions.