A report published by the United Nations’ IRIN magazine today says that flooding in Bangkok is likely to get so severe by the middle of this century that parts of the Thai capital may have to be abandoned.

“Subsidence and poor urban planning have resulted in Bangkok gradually sinking between 2cm and 5cm a year,” the report quotes researchers in Thailand.

It’s well known by city residents that Bangkok is sinking, with experts first documenting the problem in the early 1980s. But now scientists say there are added factors that are fast-tracking the city’s immersion.

“For decades we have known that the city was sinking because of sediment compression, but recent research has shown that the crust of the earth itself is also depressing here, caused by tectonic events that are totally outside our control. It is a combination of factors,” Anond Snidvongs, the Southeast Asia regional research director for multi-national non-governmental agency START, says in the report.

“Much of the problem was caused by water for industry being extracted from underground aquifers faster than it could be replaced, causing the soil to compress,” IRIN explained. “Another issue is that many of Bangkok’s canals, which once drew comparisons with those of Venice, have been concreted over and turned into roads, while houses and factories have been built on the natural floodplains surrounding the capital.” 

In addition to the obvious humanitarian issues, Bangkok’s sinking woes are a scary thought for those that are investing big bucks in the city’s real estate sector. Among the more radical proposals being suggested to fix the situation is the construction of a massive 100 kilometer dike right across the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin to Pattaya.

From CNN

great thing i didnt buy the condo yet

I remember reading a while back that London is sinking as well. Something like 1mm a year, with rising sea levels of 1-2mm per year. I doesnt really bother me though...I can swim. :-)

Buy on the hills surrounding BKK. In a few years, you will have prime waterfront property. :-)

Lucky I live on the 11th floor

With the melting of the Arctic, many parts of the world be sinking. I had to rebuild my home in another part of the garden when my old home sank about 1000 mm over more than 15 years. Also, I spent a hefty sum topping up my land; after the top up, I realised I should have left half the land to be a fishing pond. Now, I have time to learn how to sleep on water before the present home sinks!

“Much of the problem was caused by water for industry being extracted from underground aquifers faster than it could be replaced, causing the soil to compress,â€- There are laws on the books making illegal to pump water from Bangkok wells, but the regulations are not enforced. This is indicative of most environment problems in Thailand, there are laws protecting the environment, but no budget from Gov. for enforcement of the regulations.

In the Western USA, companies clean the water they use then pump it back into the aquifers.

I'm in two minds about it, personally thinking that its 20% fact and 80% a journalist making it sound bigger than it really is just to get his name out there.

There will be ways around it..

Now cancelling plans to buy a condo in BKK, will now look for a nice block of land right here in the Middle East, oops I mean Melbourne, lol

Im on a high floor so no worries Travelling sukhumvit by river taxi sounds romantic.