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illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: A new study reveals that Alexandria, Egypt, is experiencing a sharp rise in building collapses due to sea level rise and coastal erosion
• Once rare, collapses have surged to 40 per year as seawater seeps beneath foundations
• Researchers warn that thousands of historic and modern structures are at risk
🔭 The context: Founded over 2,000 years ago, Alexandria is one of Africa’s largest cities and among the most vulnerable to climate change
• Scientists analyzed shoreline changes using satellite images, historical maps, and isotopic soil studies
• Their findings show that seawater intrusion is weakening building foundations from below
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Alexandria’s situation highlights the immediate dangers of rising sea levels, contradicting the belief that severe impacts will only come with higher increases
• Other Mediterranean and global coastal cities, including parts of California, face similar threats
• Protecting historic urban areas requires urgent, climate-adaptive measures
⏭️ What's next: Researchers propose building sand dunes and vegetation barriers to prevent seawater intrusion
• This method, if successful, could serve as a model for other coastal cities
• Without intervention, Alexandria may continue to lose both lives and its cultural heritage
💬 One quote: “We’re showing that coastlines globally are already changing and causing building collapses at an unprecedented rate.” – Essam Heggy, water scientist at USC
📈 One stat: About 7,000 old buildings in Alexandria are at risk of collapse due to seawater intrusion
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