NASA: Half of Manila Could be Gone in 50 Years

10/24/2014 | 10:06 0 Posted in Local Issues

Washington | NASA Physicists and geographers are scrambling following the return of six astronauts who assigned at International Space Station in the last 100 days to study the earth’s surface. The report that the City of Manila and parts of Las Piñas will be gone in 123 years if world leaders could not find solution on climate change rocked the whole agency.

Manila is sinking rapidly since 2003 at 14.2 centimeters every year. It is around 4.6 feet every 10 years. The highest point of the city is 52.5 feet above sea level and with this yearly sinking rate; the highest part will submerge into water within 123 years or earlier if there is no solid solution for climate change.

Dr. Thomas Greene, the expedition head told ground scientists that the main reason is the overpopulation and the rising sea level due to garbage. With 1.6 million people living densely on a tiny piece of land, the ground is losing hold due to heavy load. Additionally, Manila has the most polluted atmosphere and the heat caused by carbon dioxide pushes back to the ground making it more fragile and weak.

Scientists are planning for a special brain storming and deliberation on Christmas Eve, in order to determine possible countermeasures to avoid the imminent danger surrounding the country’s capital. There is no official report from PAG-ASA at the time of this writing.

A further detail on the special report says that the lower portion, especially the Roxas Boulevard and places near the sea could disappear as early as 50 years.

According to Mayor’s Office (Estrada), the old mayor is not aware yet and will possibly ignore the issue if he knows it could not affect considering that the problem could happen 50 years from now. “He simply doesn’t care”, a spokesperson on the phone told Assisted Press.

NASA is expected to release their final report with suggested countermeasure on February next year.