OSAKA -- Without a 20 billion yen reconstruction effort, those who land at Kansai International Airport may find themselves having to swim to the passenger terminal.

That's because, six years after it opened, airport officials have discovered that the passenger terminal is sinking faster than originally predicted and is now at sea level.

Earlier this month, Kansai airport officials announced the passenger terminal had sunk by nearly 12 meters since it was opened in September 1994. While it was expected that some of the airport facilities would settle a bit, officials were surprised at the rate at which the terminal has sunk.