WATCH: Statues from 2 000-year-old sunken city hoisted from the seabed in Egypt

Egypt has unveiled parts of a sunken city submerged beneath the waters of the Mediterranean Sea off the city of Alexandria, dating back more than 2,000 years

The underwater operation gave sight of buildings and an ancient dock, along with artefacts hoisted out of the ocean with cranes, with the help of divers.

The country's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities said the site, located in the waters of Abu Qir bay, may be an extension of the ancient city of Canopus, a prominent centre during the Ptolemaic dynasty and the Roman Empire.

The Armed Forces, Navy and Armed Forces Engineering Authority were involved in the recovery.

Over time, a series of earthquakes and rising sea levels submerged the city and the nearby port of Heracleion, leaving behind a treasure trove of historical remains.

Minister Sharif Fathi said some parts of the city will remain in their original location underwater to preserve their historical value.

The parts removed from the ocean were recovered according to precise scientific standards and strict regulations allowing their extraction and protection, he emphasized.