More than 30 luxury hotels and high-rise residential buildings along South Florida beaches are unexpectedly sinking, a new study reveals.
Scientists at the University of Miami announced that 35 buildings along a 12-mile stretch from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach have sunk or subsided by 2 to 8 centimeters.
About half of these buildings are less than 10 years old, according to the study, and in some cases, the collapse may be related to nearby construction work.
Scientists were surprised by their findings, as it is not unusual for buildings to subside slightly soon after construction, but some changes occurred years later.
“The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected,” said lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani.
“This study highlights the need for continued monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term effects on these structures.”
The communities surveyed included Surfside, where the Champlain Towers South building collapsed in June 2021, killing 98 people.
The collapse is believed to have been caused by deterioration of the reinforced concrete due to improper maintenance and flawed design.
Still, the incident highlighted the need to monitor stability “particularly in coastal areas with corrosive environmental conditions,” the scientists said.
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Beneath South Florida beaches, limestone is interspersed with layers of sand, which can be shifted by the weight of tall buildings or vibrations from foundation construction. The current of the tide also plays a role.
Satellite images used to capture the changes show that the subsidence is most pronounced in buildings in Sunny Isles Beach. Preliminary data also suggests subsidence or subsidence further north along the coasts of Broward and Palm Beach counties.
The study was published by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Sciences.
