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Tue, December 24, 2024

Why are hotels and luxury condos along Florida coast sinking?


Published on 2024-12-24 00:24:57 - Firstpost
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  • A study, undertaken by researchers at the University of Miami, was published in the journal Earth and Space Science on Friday. It found that 35 buildings sank about two to eight centimetres - a process known as subsidence - between 2016 and 2023.

The article from Firstpost discusses the alarming issue of hotels and luxury condos along Florida's coast sinking due to a combination of factors including rising sea levels, overdevelopment, and the natural geological composition of the area. Florida, being a low-lying state with much of its land barely above sea level, faces significant challenges from climate change-induced sea level rise. The construction boom, particularly in high-end real estate, has led to the over-extraction of groundwater, which exacerbates land subsidence. This sinking land, coupled with more frequent and intense storms, increases the risk of flooding and structural damage to these buildings. The article highlights specific examples like Miami Beach, where luxury properties are at risk, and mentions the broader implications for property values, insurance rates, and the potential for these areas to become uninsurable or uninhabitable in the future. It also touches on the economic implications, with developers and investors potentially facing significant losses, and the urgent need for adaptive measures and policy changes to mitigate these risks.

Read the Full Firstpost Article at:
[ https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/why-hotels-luxury-condos-along-florida-coast-sinking-13847065.html ]
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