Latest news with #PetraDevelopmentTourismRegionAuthority
Daily Mirror
06-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
Horror as mum and son found dead after flash flooding at Petra tourist hotspot
A mother and son have been found dead after flash flooding tore through the ruins of Petra at the weekend. The Belgian woman and her three children, two of whom were found alive, were initially reported missing on Monday. The flooding in southern Jordan lead to the evacuation of the Petra archaeological site on Sunday, with hundreds forced to flee the country's leading tourist attraction. The family had been visiting the site with another 14 tourists on an adventure trip in Wadi al-Nakhil when they were caught up in the flash flood, Ma'an district local governor Hassan al-Jabour told state media broadcaster Al-Mamlaka TV. 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. Regarding the 2018 incident, tourists described "extraordinary" scenes of panic as the "fast and heavy" flash floods lead to the evacuation of thousands. Witnesses said there was a "thunderous roar" before 'raging water started gushing down' and covered people head to toe in mud. Holidaymakers said there was screaming, yelling, people running to escape - claiming there was no plan in place. Elderly people and families with young children who couldn't get out quickly enough became "caught", witnesses claimed. Locals galloping on horses warned visitors to the popular tourist spot to turn back. One wife was left in tears, worried about her husband who was deep in the ruins, thinking he'd been caught in the flood waters - and she was one of many worried about loved ones in the zone. Back in 2021, a tourist was killed in a freak accident at the same historical site when a rock fell on his head. The 32-year-old Italian citizen, who was with three other tourists, died at the scene. Investigators believed that heavy rainfall had caused the accident after dislodging the rock from its foundation, the Petra Development Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) reported at the time. Pictures from the scene showed a large crowd gathered around the patient, but medics were unable to save his life.
Ammon
28-04-2025
- Ammon
136,000 visitors to Petra since 2025 beginning, figures shows
Ammon News - Approximately 136,124 people visited the ancient city of Petra from the beginning of 2025 up to April 27, according to figures from the Ministry of Tourism and figures showed that foreign visitors topped the list with 105,605 visits, followed by Jordanians with 20,979 visits, while Arab visitors recorded 9, is noteworthy that the second season for (foreign) tourism in Petra begins in September and ends in November, according to a previous statement Petra Development Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA), Chairman Fares first trips of the "Urdun Jannah" programme took off on Thursday, after it was temporarily suspended in December 2024.
