Historic city of Alexandria is on the Brink of Vanishing as Sea Levels are Rising Faster than Predicted

The impeccable undefeated city of Alexandria, once the crown jewel of the Mediterranean, has stood as a testament to ancient civilization, cultural exchange, and human ingenuity for over 2,300 years. Founded by Alexander, the Great, this historical gem, popular for the legendary Library of Alexandria and the birthplace of Cleopatra, has witnessed the hardship of time, wars, and natural disasters, stated AGU. However, in the face of modern climate change and frequently shifting hydroclimatic patterns, Alexandria is now struggling with a crisis unlike any it has faced before. Its foundations are crumbling, and its historic pavements are vanishing into the sea at an alarming rate.

Recent studies reveal that the city is collapsing at a risky rate. Buildings are collapsing due to rising sea levels, which accelerated coastal erosion and spiked seawater intrusion. Over the past 20 years, 280 buildings have crumbled, and approximately 7,000 more structures are at imminent risk. The rate of this disaster has spiked from one building per year to nearly 40 per annum. Scientists attribute this to sediment imbalances, inefficient landscape management, and unregulated urban expansion along the sensitive waterfront. Essam Heggy (a water scientist at the University of Southern California's Viterbi School of Engineering) remarked, "The true cost of this loss extends far beyond bricks and mortar…We are witnessing the gradual disappearance of historic coastal cities, with Alexandria sounding the alarm. What once seemed like distant climate risks are now a present reality," stated Live Science.

Coastal erosion in Alexandria occurs due to a combination of reasons, including shoreline retreat and ground subsidence. Satellite images spanning from 1974 to 2021, as well as historical maps from 1887, 1959, and 2001, showcase a problematic trend of Alexandria’s coastline receding inland by as much as 118 feet (36 meters) annually, according to CNN. Constant rising sea levels have expedited this process, leading to higher groundwater levels and the corrosion of steel reinforcements within building foundations. The result is problematic structural failures occurring from the bottom up.

Furthermore, soil isotope analysis further cements that saltwater intrusion is eroding the ground beneath Alexandria, making its land unstable. Ibrahim Saleh, a soil radiation scientist at Alexandria University explained, "Our isotope analysis revealed that buildings are collapsing from the bottom up, as seawater intrusion erodes foundations and weakens the soil. It isn't the buildings themselves, but the ground underneath them that's being affected," stated Live Science.

Heggy added, "Our study challenges the common misconception that we'll only need to worry when sea levels rise by a meter. However, what we're showing here is that coastlines globally, especially Mediterranean coastlines similar to California's, are already changing and causing building collapses at an unprecedented rate." In response to this looming danger, researchers have suggested landscape mitigation strategies. Heggy remarked, "Historic cities like Alexandria, which represent the cradle of cultural exchange, innovation, and history, are crucial for safeguarding our shared human heritage. As climate change accelerates sea level rise and coastal erosion, protecting them isn't just about saving buildings; it's about preserving who we are," stated Indy 100.