At the Tocra walls of the ancient coastal town of Tocra, journalist Khalil Al-Barghathi and a group of young men remove the mud, clay and wood that washed into the area when Storm Daniel made landfall on the north-east coast of Libya in September.
It is one of many historic landmarks peppering the Green Mountain, Al Jabal Al Akhdar region of Cyrenaica, that stretches about 230km eastward all the way to Derna.
The region was listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1982.
"We grew up within the walls of this fortress,” Mr Al-Barghathi, 35, told The National as he gazed towards the town’s only archaeological museum, Al-Agouria, which houses more than 300 antiquities from Byzantine-era collections and excavations in the area.
Located in Al-Marj district, 70km east of Benghazi, Torca, known in Arabic as Al-Agouriya, was founded in about 631 BC, in the Greek era.
“We were raised on the importance of preserving and protecting this history from theft and vandalism, so it saddens me to see how much damage was caused by the floods,” he said.
According to the Libyan Antiquities Authority, the archaeological sites cover several hectares and include monumental Greek temples (including the Temple of Zeus, the biggest in Africa), stoas (covered walkways), theatres, bathhouses, and palatial residences.
The city is also surrounded by the Necropolis of Cyrene and is protected by an outer wall built in the first and second centuries AD.
Churches in the area date back to the Byzantine era.
An important tourist destination in Libya, this area was accessed through rugged slopes and narrow roads, allowing only one car to enter or leave at a time.
When Storm Daniel struck, destroying two major dams, large amounts of water were released into the already inundated region, killing more than 4,300 and displacing 40,000, according to figures published in October by the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).
"As the powerful floodwaters rushed down the mountains, it caused soil erosion almost five metres deep in parts of Cyrene,” Anouji Al-Urfi, head of the Crisis Committee of the Libyan Antiquities Authority told The National.
Cyrene is one of five ancient Greek cities in the Cyrenaica region near present-day Green Mountain.
“It [flooding] also caused the collapse of parts of the Grand Theatre and drowned several parts of the Apollo complex, Wadi Ghadir Street, and Ain Al-Hufrah, among others, in mud, clay, and water. The water swept away ancient pottery, minted coins and small statues”.
Mr Al-Urfi said that part of Wadi Al-Kuf bridge, which was built in the early 1900s to connect the mountain cities of Al Marj and Al Bayda, was also destroyed.
“The bridge was built near Wadi Al-Kuf caves, which were historically inhabited by ancient Libyan tribes but are known as the base of anti-colonial resistance against Italian occupation led by martyr Sheikh Omar Al-Mukhtar and his fighters,” said Mr Al-Urfi, noting that up until the storm hit, families would visit the location to take pictures near Al-Mukhtar’s monument.
While the damage to the city of Cyrene threatened some ancient structures, the erosion also revealed new archaeological sites, according to Adel Boufjra, an antiquities inspector in the district of Shahhat in Green Mountain.
"The strong floods uncovered new archaeological layers and water channels, including a water drainage system dating back to the Roman era, consisting of about 400m of channels from the heart of the mountain all the way to the Greek baths in Cyrene," Mr Boufjra told The National.
Mr Al-Urfi said that the floods revealed parts of the ancient wall of the city of Darnis (modern-day Derna), which was founded by the Greeks between 330 and 323 BC, as well as archaeological caves possibly dating back to prehistoric times.
Urgent action
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation Icesco has expressed its willingness to fund the restoration of the damaged heritage sites, Mr Al-Urfi said. This includes Ottoman-era mosques and the 11th-century Sahaba Cemetery, which reportedly held the remains of 73 companions of Prophet Mohammed.
We need to act now to contain the impact of this natural disaster
Hafeez Al-Walda,
University Professor
“Libya’s Government of National Unity [based in Tripoli] has also formed a crisis committee consisting of the Libyan Antiquities Authority and several other government institutions, to assess the damage to these sites,” Mr Al-Urfi said.
With the help of several foreign missions – Italian, French, Dutch, American, and Greek – he added, the government will take steps to restore these sites.
“While the damage has not been totally devastating, quick action must be taken to stop it from getting worse,” said university professor Hafeez Al-Walda, who is also a member of the Antiquities Authority in Benghazi, Libya’s second largest city in the north-east.
“The damage will accumulate over time as a result of soil erosion, the collapse of some sites, and the mud and clay deposits on some other sites in Tolmeitha, Tobruk, and Susah,” Mr Al-Walda told The National.
“The impacted sites include mosaics, fortresses and water tanks, some of the largest in North Africa dating back to the Greek era,” he said.
“We need to act now to contain the impact of this natural disaster.”
This article was published in collaboration with Egab.
Other IPL batting records
Most sixes: 292 – Chris Gayle
Most fours: 491 – Gautam Gambhir
Highest individual score: 175 not out – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Highest strike-rate: 177.29 – Andre Russell
Highest strike-rate in an innings: 422.22 – Chris Morris (for Delhi Daredevils against Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017)
Highest average: 52.16 – Vijay Shankar
Most centuries: 6 – Chris Gayle
Most fifties: 36 – Gautam Gambhir
Fastest hundred (balls faced): 30 – Chris Gayle (for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Pune Warriors in 2013)
Fastest fifty (balls faced): 14 – Lokesh Rahul (for Kings XI Punjab against Delhi Daredevils in 2018)
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
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OTHER IPL BOWLING RECORDS
Best bowling figures: 6-14 – Sohail Tanvir (for Rajasthan Royals against Chennai Super Kings in 2008)
Best average: 16.36 – Andrew Tye
Best economy rate: 6.53 – Sunil Narine
Best strike-rate: 12.83 – Andrew Tye
Best strike-rate in an innings: 1.50 – Suresh Raina (for Chennai Super Kings against Rajasthan Royals in 2011)
Most runs conceded in an innings: 70 – Basil Thampi (for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018)
Most hat-tricks: 3 – Amit Mishra
Most dot-balls: 1,128 – Harbhajan Singh
Most maiden overs bowled: 14 – Praveen Kumar
Most four-wicket hauls: 6 – Sunil Narine
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How%20champions%20are%20made
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What is dialysis?
Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.
It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.
There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.
In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.
In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.
It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
DUBAI WORLD CUP RACE CARD
6.30pm Meydan Classic Trial US$100,000 (Turf) 1,400m
7.05pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Group Three $250,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
8.15pm Dubai Sprint Listed Handicap $175,000 (T) 1,200m
8.50pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group Two $450,000 (D) 1,900m
9.25pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,800m
10pm Handicap $135,000 (T) 1,400m
The National selections
6.30pm Well Of Wisdom
7.05pm Summrghand
7.40pm Laser Show
8.15pm Angel Alexander
8.50pm Benbatl
9.25pm Art Du Val
10pm: Beyond Reason
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday Benevento v Atalanta (2pm), Genoa v Bologna (5pm), AC Milan v Torino (7.45pm)
Sunday Roma v Inter Milan (3.30pm), Udinese v Napoli, Hellas Verona v Crotone, Parma v Lazio (2pm), Fiorentina v Cagliari (9pm), Juventus v Sassuolo (11.45pm)
Monday Spezia v Sampdoria (11.45pm)
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
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Salah in numbers
€39 million: Liverpool agreed a fee, including add-ons, in the region of €39m (nearly Dh176m) to sign Salah from Roma last year. The exchange rate at the time meant that cost the Reds £34.3m - a bargain given his performances since.
13: The 25-year-old player was not a complete stranger to the Premier League when he arrived at Liverpool this summer. However, during his previous stint at Chelsea, he made just 13 Premier League appearances, seven of which were off the bench, and scored only twice.
57: It was in the 57th minute of his Liverpool bow when Salah opened his account for the Reds in the 3-3 draw with Watford back in August. The Egyptian prodded the ball over the line from close range after latching onto Roberto Firmino's attempted lob.
7: Salah's best scoring streak of the season occurred between an FA Cup tie against West Brom on January 27 and a Premier League win over Newcastle on March 3. He scored for seven games running in all competitions and struck twice against Tottenham.
3: This season Salah became the first player in Premier League history to win the player of the month award three times during a term. He was voted as the division's best player in November, February and March.
40: Salah joined Roger Hunt and Ian Rush as the only players in Liverpool's history to have scored 40 times in a single season when he headed home against Bournemouth at Anfield earlier this month.
30: The goal against Bournemouth ensured the Egyptian achieved another milestone in becoming the first African player to score 30 times across one Premier League campaign.
8: As well as his fine form in England, Salah has also scored eight times in the tournament phase of this season's Champions League. Only Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, with 15 to his credit, has found the net more often in the group stages and knockout rounds of Europe's premier club competition.
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More on Quran memorisation:
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Squid Game season two
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun
Rating: 4.5/5
