Millennia-old "mud skyscrapers" in Yemen's Sanaa undergo urgent restoration after monsoon damage

SANAA, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa, home to over 6,000 unique multi-story mud-brick structures dating back 2,500 years, is undergoing urgent restoration after monsoon damage to its historic fabric, according to local residents and authorities.

Dubbed one of the world's first "skyscrapers," these six-to-nine-story buildings now face a critical preservation race as heavy rains threaten their survival and residents' safety.

"Rain is a major cause of the damage to some houses, and most of the problems and emergencies occur during the rainy season. Many homes were damaged on the roofs, which led to disasters (collapses) and the suffering of their residents," Abdul Wahab Al-Mahdi, head of Sanaa's General Authority for the Preservation of Cities and Historic and Archaeological Monuments, told Xinhua.

"We have purchased the necessary equipment in preparation for emergency rescue intervention in case any problem or disaster occurs during this rainy season," Al-Mahdi said.

Recent years saw many residents in Yemen perish in extreme weather-triggered collapses. For example, severe flooding hitting several provinces of Yemen since mid-July 2024 left over 150 people dead and thousands more displaced as of September last year. The flooding also caused massive damage to vital infrastructure, with vast tracts of agricultural land submerged and roads blocked.

Traditional craftsmen are now working under supervision, patching roofs with age-old techniques to prevent structural failures of the "skyscrapers."

"We were afraid that the house would collapse due to rainwater leaking from the ceilings. We would not sleep at night," Mohammed Al-Zari'i, a local resident, told Xinhua.

"I contacted the authority, and they responded promptly. They have now begun work on repairing the ceilings and renovating the house," he said.

"My house was about to collapse due to the heavy rain, and we could have been left homeless. I contacted the authorities, and they came to repair it," Abdulrahman Al-Asbahi, a father of six, told Xinhua.

"Before the restoration, our fears were great. We couldn't sleep. We were forced to leave the house and sleep at the neighbors' house," he said. ■