Terrifying number of luxury Florida high-rises SINKING as researchers reveal potential cause

An alarming number of luxury skyscrapers along Florida’s coastline have sunk or crashed in unexpected ways in recent years, a new study shows.

Just over three dozen high-rise buildings stretching 12 miles from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles Beach, according to scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric , 0.8 to 8.5 centimeters has sagged. and Earth Sciences.

The research, published on Friday, shows that around half of buildings affected by subsidence – the gradual sinking of an area of ​​land – are less than ten years old, with most affected apartments and hotels built after 2014 .

However, authors of the unnerving study came up with some theories about what caused the terrifying sinking based on their findings.

While it is not entirely uncommon to see minor sinkings during and shortly after new construction, researchers indicate that there is a connection between construction-related vibrations that may be attributable to the minor sinking.

It is expected that settlements of up to several inches will occur in the high-rise buildings “during and immediately following construction,” the University of Miami Rosenstiel School said in a statement.

The sinking is also explained as “mainly due to the gradual reconfiguration of the sand grains towards a denser packing within sand layers embedded in the limestone” in the area, the study said.

Although other theories postulate that groundwater flow, daily tidal flow or storm water injection may have played a role in the ongoing phenomenon.

The research, published on Friday, shows that about half of the buildings affected by subsidence – the gradual sinking of a piece of land – are less than ten years old. In the photo: the beach at Bal Harbor Village

Researchers and local officials have since said there is no immediate cause for concern as the sinking is generally slower in most cases.

‘We found that subsidence in most high-rise buildings slows over time, but in some cases it continues steadily. This suggests that subsidence may continue for a longer period of time,” says senior author Falk Amelung.

However, researchers call their new discovery ‘unexpected’.

“The discovery of the extent of subsidence hotspots along the South Florida coastline was unexpected,” said lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani.

But they plan to continue monitoring the affected areas to gain a more complete understanding of the naturally occurring condition.

“The study underlines the need for continued monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures,” said Aziz Zanjani.

Concerns about Florida’s high-rise buildings were dramatically expressed three years ago when a devastating tragedy rocked the picturesque skyline after a 12-story apartment building in Miami collapsed, killing 98 people.

The deadly collapse was reportedly spotted by scientists who had been studying the potentially dangerous condition, as their research showed that the sea-facing condo development is sinking at a rate of about 2 millimeters per year.

In part, researchers believe the sinking is “primarily due to the gradual reconfiguration of the sand grains into a denser packing within sand layers embedded in the limestone” in the area. Pictured: Aerial view of North Miami Beach and Sunny Isles Beach

Concerns about Florida’s high-rise buildings were dramatically expressed three years ago when a devastating tragedy rocked the picturesque skyline after a 12-story apartment building in Miami collapsed, killing 98 people. Pictured: Miami Beach’s Champlain Tower South after its partial collapse in 2021

However, the findings, published by Florida International University in 2020, stated that the collapse was partly due to Champlain Tower South’s location in reclaimed wetlands and partly due to reinforced concrete that deteriorated due to poor maintenance and design.

Another study published earlier this year found that buildings in major cities along the Atlantic coast were also sinking.

Research from Virginia Tech and the US Geological Survey found that areas in New York City, Long Island, Baltimore and Virginia Beach were sinking more than the rate at which seawater was rising.