Florida: luxury hotels and condos are sinking into the ground, study finds

Dozens of luxury hotels and condos are sinking into the ground in Southeast Florida at a surprising rate, according to a new study.

In all, 35 buildings, stretching from Golden Beach to Miami Beach, became buried three inches (more than seven centimeters) deep between 2016 and 2023, University of Miami scientists noted.

Tens of thousands of residents and tourists have stayed, temporarily or permanently, in these buildings, said the report published on December 13. These include the Ritz-Carlton chain residences, Trump Tower III, Trump International Beach Resorts and Surf Club Towers.

They explained that the main cause would be vibrations coming from construction sites. They create oil particles which compact and settle. This causes subsidence and thus the progressive sinking of the earth.

“It's not a surprise if buildings move during construction or immediately after construction,” study author and geophysics professor Falk Amelung told CNN.

Due to the heaviness of the buildings, engineers would take this bill into account during construction.

For him, the surprise lies rather in the fact that this phenomenon continues for years.

Remember that the greater Miami region is facing two challenges: land subsidence and rising water levels due to climate change.