Experts, MPs, call on state to take warnings of Alexandria sinking seriously

Egypt Independent

3 days ago

The severe storm that struck Alexandria Governorate on Saturday early morning renewed the concerns of many public affairs experts and experts at the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF).
These concerns were linked to numerous scientific studies issued by international scientific institutions, such as NASA, which revealed that the extreme climate changes impacting Alexandria could result in more extreme natural phenomena akin to the recent storm.
These studies warned of the potential for the coastal city to sink, especially as sea levels rise.
A recent study issued by the Technical University of Munich in Germany warned of the accelerated erosion of Alexandria's coasts and the collapse of hundreds of buildings due to the rising sea level of the Mediterranean Sea, and the intrusion of saltwater into the foundations of buildings.
The ever growing threat of climate change
The professor of marine sciences at the Faculty of Science at Alexandria University, Mohamed Shaltout, said that the history of climate change's reported impact on global average temperatures began in 1854, with the next warmest year being in 1990.
He explained that temperatures rose by six degrees Celsius by the end of that period, which he cited as preliminary evidence of climate change.
Climate change is the long-term impact on meteorological factors, he explained, which includes temperatures, rainfall, and weather patterns- consequently impacting all aspects of life.
He noted that climate change will worsen water scarcity, further exacerbating shortages in already water-poor areas.
Shaltout said that sea levels off the coast of the Egyptian Delta, especially Alexandria, will not exceed 29 cm in the worst-case scenario. This means that Alexandria is safe from total submersion, but added, 'We must manage the coasts more efficiently to deal with this slight increase.'
He spoke about the risks posed by climate change, including coastal submersion and the subsequent displacement of their populations, the potential for drought and subsequent water scarcity, which will impact agriculture, and rising temperatures and the resulting migration of animals northward.
MPs urge the state to act
The head of the Liberal Constitutional Party, Mohamed Magdy Afifi, urged the state to take scientific warnings about Alexandria's vulnerability to submersion seriously, conducting in-depth study with experts from NIOF and the Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology.
This will help determine the best methods for addressing these warnings through future plans to protect Alexandria.
Afifi noted that the destruction of 280 buildings over the past two decades, with 7,000 buildings at risk of collapse in the coming period, is a serious matter that requires in-depth scientific study by specialists.
A member of Parliament for the Montazah district in Alexandria, Abul-Abbas Farhat Turki, said that climate change is going to impact many countries around the world and all marine systems, and Egypt will suffer greatly for it.
He pointed out that parts of Alexandria, Marsa Matrouh, Beheira, and Kafr el-Sheikh are at risk of submersion and extinction, which requires swift action to develop future plans to address the crisis.
Turki warned that global scientific institutions have issued studies showing that parts of Alexandria will likely be submerged and that the city is being impacted by climate change, due to rising sea levels.
This requires careful preparation through marine protection projects, he added.
A member of Parliament for the Raml district in Alexandria, Aly al-Dessouki Ahmed, also expressed deep concerns about the impact of climate change on Alexandria.
He referred to NASA scientist Essam Heggy's statement regarding the possibility that large parts of Alexandria, its suburbs, and areas in northern Egypt being submerged, which will requires a concerted effort to save the coastal city.
Dessouki said that climate change is a complex and pivotal issue, and 'We must conduct a comprehensive assessment of crisis management to ensure we are well prepared for future storms and environmental or marine disasters that may occur as a result of climate change and rising sea levels.'
He praised the Alexandria Governorate's agencies for managing Saturday's severe weather, but warned that future storms could be more severe and difficult, requiring all agencies to maintain the highest level of preparedness.
A Member of Parliament for the Montazah district in Alexandria, Mohamed Hussein al-Hamamy, said that Saturday's storm was a real test on how to manage crises and disasters in Alexandria.
While the governorate had succeeded in dealing with it and mitigating its impacts, Hamamy warned that climate change is difficult and requires special preparations to manage.
He explained that the state must act must use realistic scientific plans to confront this threat and prevent the city from sinking.
This can be achieved by establishing marine protection projects for beaches along the Alexandria Corniche coastline and taking urgent measures to protect Alexandria from increasing rainfall rates brought on by climate change, he added.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm