Tourism is one of the economic sources of Jordan which greatly affected due to recent flash floods unleashed by heavy rain. The local peoples are also facing life threats as already 12 died according to local media. Authorities are working to evacuate the peoples on that area to safer places. Tourists are also evacuating from the ancient city of Petra. According to authorities more than 4000 tourists have been evacuated so far.
Saturday’s reports came a day after floods struck in several areas of Jordan, including Petra, and the searches for missing people continue.
Jumana Ghneimat government spokeswoman and civil defence officials say the death toll rose early on Saturday after another body was found in the Madaba region south of the capital of Amman. Six people are known to have died there. The visitors were taken to safe areas before flash floods inundated parts of the mountainous city famed for its carved rock ruins, Ghneimat added.
“Our embassy in Tel Aviv contacted the Israeli foreign ministry for information on the identities of the missing Israelis,” Ghneimat said in statements carried by the state news agency Petra.
Hundreds of Petra visitors ran for higher ground on Friday as water surged through a narrow canyon leading to the Treasury, Petra’s main attraction. Authorities had found alive four Israeli tourists who had gone missing in the Wadi Rum desert in southern Jordan but were looking for two more.
Authorities declared a state of emergency in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba further south as downpours started in the afternoon.
Politicians and members of the public criticised the emergency response services at the time, saying crews had been unprepared, and two ministers were forced to resign after a parliamentary committee found negligence.
> Alma Siddiqua
Jordan: Flash Floods Havoc Results in 12 Dead
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