Rising sea levels due to climate change have become a threat to Egypt's coastal city of Alexandria as phemen is leing to inundation of poorer neighborhoods and archaeological sites in city. In 2015, a severe storm flooded large parts of city, causing at least six deaths and collapse of some two dozen homes, exposing weaknesses in local infrastructure. As result authorities are w prompted to erect concrete barriers out at sea to break tide. Rising sea levels are a phemen happening to melting of polar ice caps as a result of global warming.

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rising sea level

Sea level in Alexandria rose by an aver of 1.8 millimeters annually until 1993, Egypt's Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation said. Since 2012 it has reached as high as 3.2 millimeters per year, eugh to threaten building foundations.

reason why Alexandria is susceptible to rising sea is that it is surrounded on three sides by Mediterranean Sea and backs up to a lake. Beaches spreing across a coastline of 60 Km are alrey showing signs of erosion. U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that global sea levels could rise by 0.28 to 0.98 meters (1-3 feet) by 2100, with “serious implications for coastal cities, deltas, and low-lying states.”

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Due in part to upstream dams that prevent replenishment of silt and to natural gas extraction, land on which Alexandria is built, along with surrounding Nile Delta, is sinking at roughly same rate.

Up to 734 square kilometers (more than 280 square miles) of Nile Delta could be inundated by 2050 and 2,660 square kilometers (more than 1,000 sq. miles) by end of century, affecting 5.7 million people, a 2018 study suggested.

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Residents at risk

People living in low-lying areas were asked to leave ir homes after severe flooding in 2015. Although housing ministry provided m apartments, re are many who are still rebuilding and relocating during calamities. “We kw it is risky. We kw that entire area will be underwater, but we have alternative,” a 52-year-old resident of Shatby neighborhood said. Although authorities have built sea defenses it is hardly working as waves seem larger and more dangerous every year, ar resident ded.

Similarly, Sayed Khalil, a 67-year-old fisherman from neighborhood, said “It is hard to imagine that el-Max will be here in a few deces. All se houses might vanish. area you see w will be an underwater museum.

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Threat to city's antiquities

Alexandria has survived invasions, fires, and earthquakes since it was founded by Alexander Great more than 2,000 years ago. One of its remaining ancient monuments is citel of Qaitbay is vulnerable, said Ashour Abdel-Karim, he of Egyptian General Authority. increasingly powerful waves and currents h pushed into foundations, forcing authorities to install a long line of concrete sea barriers visible from built-up downtown waterfront, kwn as Corniche, he ded. More than $120 million were allocated by Egyptian government for barriers and or protective measures along shore, Abdel-Karim said.

Inland sites such as Kom el-Shouqafa and prophet Daniel street are also under threat. Mohammed Mahrous, who works for a bookstore on Street compares before, after and future scenario of area.

“We are aware that this street, which survived for hundreds of years, could be underwater in coming years, in our lifetime.....Every year waves are stronger than in previous one. winter is harsher and summer is more sweltering,” he said.

(With inputs from AP)

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