Floods damage many ancient relics in Libya

Experts from the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have arrived in Libya to assess the state of ancient sites affected by catastrophic flooding in the east of the country last September.

Floods cause damage in Libya. (Source: AFP)

A delegation of UNESCO experts is scheduled to visit Cyrene, a city with many world heritage sites that are at risk of collapse due to floodwaters inundating its foundations.

UNESCO said experts would carry out “a preliminary survey of the damage caused by the floods and structures that need urgent reinforcement”.

The mission will also assess other sites rich in archaeological heritage in Libya, notably the ancient city of Ptolemais and the cave of Haua Fteah – both on the World Heritage Register – as well as the ancient city of Apollonia.

Previously, on September 10, storm Daniel accompanied by heavy rains in eastern Libya caused severe flooding in the city of Derna as well as neighboring towns and areas, damaging many heritages in the Cyrene relic site, one of the five cities in the Hellenistic period (323-146 BC) and which was named after a province in the east of this African country, Cyrenaica.

UNESCO sent a team of experts on a mission at the request of Libya, during which the organization will also assess ways to contribute to help rebuild flood-affected areas.

Among these areas was the city of Derna, which was worst affected by the floods, with many people and properties swept away into the Mediterranean Sea.

According to the latest statistics released by Eastern Libyan authorities on October 5, floods in Derne killed 4,200 people while thousands of others are still missing.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/lu-lut-lam-hu-hai-nhieu-di-tich-co-o-libya-245676.html