According to Tunisian authorities, three masons lost their lives on Saturday while working on repairs for the Unesco world heritage site in Kairouan, after a portion of the ancient walls surrounding the Old City collapsed.
The Civil Protection department reported that two workers were harmed when a 6-meter-high section of the walls near the Gate of the Floggers, which measured 30 meters (100 feet), collapsed to the ground.
According to department spokesperson Moez Tria, a team was conducting restoration efforts on the 3km (two mile) long wall surrounding the Old City. Tria stated to AFP that the incident may have been caused by heavy rain in the area over the past few days.
Kairouan, established in 670 AD, is a sacred city in North Africa and a popular destination for tourists. It was designated as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1988.
Source: theguardian.com
