Major Earthquakes Cause Gradual Land Subsidence

In Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand

Major Earthquakes Cause Gradual Land Subsidence

Scientists have found that the devastating earthquake of magnitude 9.2 on the Richter scale, which occurred off the coast of Sumatra in 2004, caused gradual land subsidence in Singapore in the years that followed.

The scientists explained that this subsidence, although it did not exceed a few millimeters per year, must be taken into account when studying sea level rise and developing plans to adapt to climate change, according to Singapore's The Straits Times.

The research, supervised by Nanyang Technological University, revealed that the major earthquakes in Sumatra caused land subsidence not only in Singapore, but also in neighboring Malaysia and Thailand.

Geologists concluded that the movement of the Earth's surface continued even in areas located more than 600 kilometers from the earthquake epicenters.

They explained that ignoring how the Earth's surface subsides and rises, also known as vertical land motion, may lead to underestimation of coastal flood risks in low-lying areas.