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New Orleans 'Death Traps' Sinking Faster Than Expected

Posted by: Nate Berg

8 June 2006 - 8:00am

Ground subsidence near levees is reported to be much more drastic than previously thought, according to a University of Miami study.

The report shows that some areas in New Orleans are steadily sinking at a rate of about 1 inch per year. One of the city's levees is reported to have sunken more than 3 feet since its construction 30 years ago. Engineers have assured the city government that New Orleans and its levees are prepared for this year's hurricane season, which is officially already underway, but the report suggests that the levees are ultimately doomed to failure.

"Subsidence may explain why some levees were easily breached by floodwaters, the study in the Nature journal says."

"It argues some very low-lying areas of the US city should not be rebuilt, describing them as 'death traps'."

Full Story: New Orleans 'sinking even faster'
Source: BBC, June 1, 2006
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