International airport with flights to 91 cities sinking in sea rapidly, airport is…, reason…
New Delhi: Japan’s Kansai International Airport is currently facing a serious crisis. This airport, built on 2 artificial islands in the middle of Osaka Bay, is continuously sinking into the earth. The situation has become such that Japan has to take immediate steps so that the situation does not worsen.
What is wrong with the airport’s design?
According to the report of The Straits Times, the surface of the island has gone down by 3.84 meters so far. Since the construction of the airport, it has sunk by a total of 13.6 meters. When this airport opened in 1994, it was seen as an excellent design floating on soft sea soil. However, in just 8 years it has gone down by about 12 meters.
Why is it sinking so fast?
The weight of the airport and the soft soil of the sea are not able to handle it. Now the rising sea level and natural changes are slowly taking it towards the depths of the sea, due to which its future is in danger.
Kansai Airport has set a record of no baggage loss for more than 10 years so far. In 2024, it was declared the world’s best luggage handling airport. During the 2018 typhoon Jebi, there was heavy flooding, and the airport had to be temporarily closed. Engineers are constantly working on stabilizing the airport.
What do experts say?
According to the latest data for 2024, an average annual descending of 6 centimeters has been recorded in the first part of the island while up to 21 centimeters in the second part. This airport still remains an international connection for 91 cities.
Kansai International Airport is the primary international airport in the Greater Osaka Area of Japan and the closest international airport to the cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is located on an artificial island, Kankūjima in the middle of Osaka Bay off the Honshu shore.
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