Water　inrush　often　occurs　during　tunnel　construction　in　karst　areas　due　to　their　complexity,　and　this　frequently　results　in　surface　settlement.　This　paper　proposes　an　analytical　method　for　construction　in　a　karst　development　zone　in　light　of　water　inrush　induced　surface　settlement,　namely　to　analyze　the　features　of　the　surface　settlement　with　a　settlement　diagram,　to　determine　the　geological　structures　of　the　karst　development　zone,　to　study　the　zone＇s　boundary　with　geological　data　related　to　the　settlement　area,　and　to　analyze　the　supply　relation　between　the　water　inrush　and　rivers　according　to　the　relationship　between　the　settlement　centre　and　the　rivers.　Additionally,　using　the　data　of　surface　settlement　induced　by　water　inrush　at　YDK24　+098　of　the　Xiangshan　tunnel　on　the　Longyan-Xiamen　railway,　this　paper　analyzes　the　geological　structures　of　the　karst　development　zone,　the　longitudinal　boundary　of　the　karst,　and　the　supply　relation　between　the　water　inrush　and　the　rivers,　thereby　verifying　the　feasibility　of　the　above　mentioned　analytical　method.