Japan's iconic £15 billion Kansai Airport is sinking!
Jigyasu Joshi Jan 10, 2024
World's first ocean airport is grappling with a pressing predicament – it’s sinking at an alarming pace
The airport was initially predicted to settle evenly over five decades, stabilising on its artificial islands at an elevation of 13 feet above sea level to avert flooding
However, the airport’s artificial islands reached this critical threshold in a mere six years
Despite extensive efforts, including raising the terminal area with hydraulic jacks, the airport continues to sink
Engineers are troubled not only by the descent rate of descent but also the unevenness in its submergence
While the airport remains pivotal in connecting Osaka to the global sphere, its future hangs in the balance
As engineers grapple with the challenge, uncertainties cloud the fate of this once-iconic aviation marvel
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