Jordan Floods: At Least 18 Dead, Mostly Kids, Teachers

Local Editor

At least 18 people, mainly schoolchildren and teachers, lost their lives on Thursday in a flash flood near Jordan’s Dead Sea that happened while they were on an outing, rescuers and hospital workers said.

However, 34 people were rescued in a major operation involving police helicopters and hundreds of army troops, police chief Brig. Gen. Farid al-Sharaa told state television.

Some of those rescued were in a serious condition.

Many of those killed were children under 14. A number of families picnicking in the popular destination were also among the dead and injured, rescuers said, without giving a breakdown of the numbers.

Hundreds of families and relatives converged on Shounah Hospital a few kilometers from the resort area. Relatives sobbed and searched for details about the missing children, a witness said.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team