Sanaa, Yemen - Aug 8-10, 2020 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Various of ancient buildings, people repairing ruined roof
2. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Khaled Al-Ibrahimi, head of Sanaa's Historic Cities Preservation Authority (partially overlaid with shot 3)
"The recent rainstorms have affected the entire country of Yemen, which caused damages to a number of historical heritages and impaired a lot of ancient architectures to varying degrees. Some suffer a leaking roof, and others were partially crashed, with some entirely ruined due to the floods. These ancient architectures are in terrible situation. If the rainy weather continues like this, then probably just like how the meteorological authorities said, that we are going to inscribe these ancient cities as historic heritage in danger, especially those on the List of World Heritage."
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3. Various of damaged ancient buildings due to rainstorms
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4. Various of residents forced out of home, ruined buildings
5. Life necessities on street
6. Various of facade of Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority of Yemen
7. Various of climate researcher working in front of computer in office
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Rashid Al Qudsi, head of climate department, Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority of Yemen (partially overlaid with shot 9):
"The continuous torrential rain and rain-triggered floods are unprecedented for Yemen over the past decades. The nonstop rainstorm in recent days has led to the saturation of moisture content in the soil, as well as the saturation of water in traditional mud-made houses here, which could easily collapse at any time."
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9. Various of damaged ancient buildings due to rainstorms
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10. Cars moving on inundated street
11. River

Rains and flash floods in Yemen have completely destroyed four buildings and damaged 30 others in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage site of the Old City of Sanaa.

Parts of the wall surrounding the city collapsed during the week-long rains. Several families fled their houses after they partially collapsed.

Khaled al-Ibrahimi, head of Sanaa's Historic Cities Preservation Authority, expressed his worries during an exclusive interview with China Central Television (CCTV).

"The recent rainstorms have affected the entire country of Yemen, which caused damages to a number of historical heritages and impaired a lot of ancient architectures to varying degrees. Some suffer a leaking roof, and others were partially crashed, with some entirely ruined due to the floods. These ancient architectures are in terrible situation. If the rainy weather continues like this, then probably just like how the meteorological authorities said, that we are going to inscribe these ancient cities as historic heritage in danger, especially those on the List of World Heritage," he said.

According to the health authorities of the nation, a total of 131 died due to the rainstorms as well as rain-triggered floods over the past weeks, with at least another 124 injured.

Meanwhile, a number of infrastructure facilities were damaged and massive economic losses were induced as well.

The Old City of Sanaa was inscribed on the World Heritage List of the UNESCO in 1986.

The Old City has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years. The 6,000 mud-brick tower houses are decorated with geometric patterns of white plaster and stained glass windows.

The city was added on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2015 after the eruption of the civil war.

"The continuous torrential rain and rain-triggered floods are unprecedented for Yemen over the past decades. The nonstop rainstorm in recent days has led to the saturation of moisture content in the soil, as well as the saturation of water in traditional mud-made houses here, which could easily collapse at any time," said Rashid Al Qudsi, head of climate department from the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Authority of Yemen.