Flash Floods in Southern Jordan Result in Fatalities and Widespread Evacuations
Search and rescue operations conducted after severe weather leads to tragic loss of life and mass evacuations of tourists.
In southern Jordan, flash floods have caused the tragic deaths of a mother and son, prompting an official investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Following a significant weather event over the weekend, severe rains led to flooding across various regions of the country, necessitating a major search and rescue operation.
The Petra Development of Tourism and Region Authority reported that heavy rainfall triggered the flash floods in Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on Sunday.
As floodwaters surged, hundreds of tourists were evacuated from affected areas to ensure their safety.
A spokesperson for the Public Security Directorate mentioned that specialized teams from the Civil Defense, local police forces, and Gendarmerie conducted extensive search operations in challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain, spanning several hours before discovering the two victims.
According to Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of Petra Archaeology Park and Tourism at PDTRA, the overwhelming majority of the nearly 1,800 tourists visiting Petra on that day were successfully evacuated.
Additionally, 14 individuals who had become trapped by the rising water in the Western Ma’an Police Directorate were rescued unharmed.
Separately, a team was dispatched to the Tafileh region to locate a teenager who has been reported missing while sheep herding in the Hasa area.
The areas evacuated by the Civil Defense included the Al-Khazneh, the Siq, the Roman Soldier’s Tomb, the Monastery, and the surrounding slopes of Prophet Harun.
In light of the ongoing weather risks, ticket sales to all major tourist attractions in the region have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
The PDTRA has also advised the public to avoid areas prone to flooding and low-lying regions.
Following a significant weather event over the weekend, severe rains led to flooding across various regions of the country, necessitating a major search and rescue operation.
The Petra Development of Tourism and Region Authority reported that heavy rainfall triggered the flash floods in Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on Sunday.
As floodwaters surged, hundreds of tourists were evacuated from affected areas to ensure their safety.
A spokesperson for the Public Security Directorate mentioned that specialized teams from the Civil Defense, local police forces, and Gendarmerie conducted extensive search operations in challenging weather conditions and difficult terrain, spanning several hours before discovering the two victims.
According to Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of Petra Archaeology Park and Tourism at PDTRA, the overwhelming majority of the nearly 1,800 tourists visiting Petra on that day were successfully evacuated.
Additionally, 14 individuals who had become trapped by the rising water in the Western Ma’an Police Directorate were rescued unharmed.
Separately, a team was dispatched to the Tafileh region to locate a teenager who has been reported missing while sheep herding in the Hasa area.
The areas evacuated by the Civil Defense included the Al-Khazneh, the Siq, the Roman Soldier’s Tomb, the Monastery, and the surrounding slopes of Prophet Harun.
In light of the ongoing weather risks, ticket sales to all major tourist attractions in the region have been suspended as a precautionary measure.
The PDTRA has also advised the public to avoid areas prone to flooding and low-lying regions.
