The devastation caused by the floods in Libya has uncovered new buildings at an ancient Greek city near Derna.
Libyan authorities who arrived to investigate the old city and recover what might be preserved were surprised to discover archaeological sites that had resurfaced after the rains had receded.
According to Dr. Ahmed Issa of Omar Al-Mukhtar University’s Department of Archeology, a national council of specialists should be created to categorise the new archaeological sites and develop a restoration plan for the region.
Anis Hamed, from the Shahat Antiquities Control Department, said that the floods caused cracks in the walls of archaeological buildings, and that they contacted local official authorities and UNESCO for help.
The city of Cyrene was founded in 631 BC by the Greeks, and it witnessed the height of its prosperity in the fourth century BC with the development of agricultural and commercial activity.
The city is distinguished by its Greek baths, the Temple of Zeus, which was founded in the fifth century BC, the Temple of Apollo, and other temples.
The floods killed thousands, uprooted residential buildings and washed away roads and bridges, especially in the city of Derna.
More than 11,000 people have been reported killed, and more than 10,000 others remain missing more than a week after the disaster, according to the Libyan Red Crescent and the United Nations.
