Tunisia-Monastir: collapse of part of Bab Houmet Trabelsia

Part of Bab Houmet Trabelsia in Monastir collapsed on Tuesday, December 19, due to recent rain. Fortunately, there were no reported losses, according to Chokri Tlili, the regional commissioner of cultural affairs, speaking on Jawhara FM. Protective barriers have been established while awaiting the restoration of the building. The collapse is attributed to the heavy rainfall in the city.

This incident follows the collapse of part of the medina ramparts in Kairouan a few days earlier, resulting in three fatalities and three wounded. The Ministry of Cultural Affairs has initiated an inquiry, leading to the arrest of the contractor and the engineer responsible for the site. Further, the regional heritage inspector in Kairouan, Fethi Bahri, was dismissed on Monday, December 18.

These events highlight the vulnerability of many historical monuments exposed to the effects of time. While renovation initiatives exist, the implementation of these projects appears to encounter delays.