7,000 Buildings at Risk: The Sinking of Alexandria

Once a beacon of civilization, Alexandria, the historic Egyptian port city founded by Alexander the Great, is now fighting for survival against rising sea levels. A recent study warns that saltwater intrusion is causing a surge in building collapses, accelerating a crisis that has been developing for decades.

Scientists have found that the coastline has retreated by several meters per year, leaving thousands of buildings vulnerable. In just 20 years, 280 buildings have been lost, and an estimated 7,000 more are at risk. Unlike typical coastal flooding, the ground beneath these structures is deteriorating as saltwater seeps in, weakening foundations from below long before the rising sea ever reaches them.

Climate change is accelerating sea level rise due to a combination of thermal expansion and glacial meltwater. According to NOAA, global sea levels have already risen by 20-23 cm since 1880, with projections indicating a potential rise of 1.9 meters by 2100.

However, the real danger for Alexandria lies underground. The study reveals that saltwater is infiltrating up to 2 km inland, eroding the soil and destabilizing buildings far from the coastline. This hidden process has turned once-stable neighborhoods into high-risk zones, making the city’s historic structures more vulnerable than ever.

Experts stress that immediate action is needed to mitigate the crisis. Possible solutions include:

As a concluding remark, "Protecting Alexandria isn’t just about saving buildings—it’s about preserving our shared human heritage." The crisis in Alexandria serves as a global warning, emphasizing the urgent need for coastal resilience strategies to protect historic cities worldwide.