- Three masons working in central Tunisia were killed when a portion of the ancient walls fell.
- Rainfall in the area may have contributed to the tragedy.
- One millimeter of rain fell on Kairouan in the twenty-four hours leading up to Saturday.
According to authorities, three masons working on renovations to the UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Tunisia were killed when a portion of the ancient walls around the Old City of Kairouan fell.
Near the Gate of the Leather Workers in the Kairouan medina of Tunisia, an accident involving a 30-meter piece of six-meter-high walls resulted in the injuries of two workers.
An ancient wall
Rainfall in the area may have contributed to the tragedy; in the 24 hours leading up to Saturday, the area got one millimeter of rain. One millimeter of rain fell on Kairouan in the twenty-four hours leading up to Saturday, according to the Tunisian National Institute of Meteorology.
A lot of rain was predicted at the beginning of the week in several places, particularly in coastal cities. One of North Africa’s holiest cities and a popular tourist destination, Kairouan was established in 670 AD.
Mosques from the ninth century, including the Great Mosque, and the city itself have a rich architectural legacy. Since 1988, it has been acknowledged as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Four gates form the ramparts: Bab Tunis, Bab al-Khukha, Bab al-Jalladin, Bab al-Shuhada’ (Gate of the Martyrs), and Bab al-Khukha (Gate of the Hatch/Counter).
