Mother and son killed after flash flooding hits Middle East tourist site
Tragedy struck in southern Jordan on Sunday as flash floods swept through Wadi al-Nakhil, claiming the lives of a Belgian tourist and her son.
The pair were part of a group of 18 tourists on an adventure trip when the sudden deluge hit. Search and rescue teams recovered their bodies on Monday, while the woman's two other children were found alive, according to Jordanian police.
The flooding also forced the evacuation of hundreds of tourists from the renowned Petra archaeological site, a major tourist destination in the country. The incident underscores the dangers of flash floods, particularly in desert regions.
Fourteen tourists, all Czechs, were rescued on Sunday. Rescue crews located two of the children alive late Sunday, al-Jabour said. The search and rescue operation was suspended at about 2 a.m. because of the complicated weather conditions and terrain. The bodies of the woman and her son were found Monday morning after the search resumed, he said.
Further details about the family and the ages of the children weren't immediately available.
Jordan often experiences flash flooding as heavy seasonal rains send torrents of water through dry desert valleys. At least three people died in 2021 when floodwaters swept away their car, while more than 30 people were killed in flash flooding that hit Petra and Jordan's Dead Sea coast in two separate floods in 2018.
The flood forced nearly 4000 tourists to flee the ancient city of Petra.
Visitors ran for higher ground as water surged through a narrow canyon leading to the Treasury, the historic site's main attraction.
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