The rains have also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam
world1 day ago
A flash flood hit Jordan's ancient city of Petra on Monday as rainfall lashed the archaeological site, forcing evacuations of hundreds of tourists. Water from nearby mountains in Jordan gushed into the rose-red city, which dates to around 300 B.C., which has withstood human and natural disasters.
According to media reports, an estimated 1,700 tourists and locals were ordered to evacuate the Unesco World Heritage Site for their safety due to the heavy rains.
Footage shared on social media showed a river of water pouring into the gorge at the entrance of the Petra temple as tourists flee Jordan's 2,000-year-old attraction, situated 150 miles south of Jerusalem. The video showed water gushing down from the mountains like a waterfall, breaking parts of the historic city.
Another video showed the popular gorge known as the Siq in Petra becoming a river of mud water as a flash flood hit the ancient city. Petra authorities had warned citizens to stay away from flood drains and valleys and not to risk leaving their homes on Monday during rainfall due to the rising water level.
Petra Development Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) said on Tuesday that it is business as usual in Red Rose city after clean-up operations following heavy rainfall that triggered massive floods across the southern region.
PDTRA Chief Commissioner Suleiman Farajat said crews laboured to clean trails for visitors and hikers at the archaeological site and key destination, which was struck by downpours the previous day.
The tourist movement is back to normal as the authority's teams worked to clean up streets, water drains and ferries in the Petra district and rehabilitate the main trail to ensure the safety of tourists and secure a smooth entry to the site, Farajat told Petra news agency.
The total rainfall across the Kingdom amounted to about 1.147 bcm during the past 24 hours, with 741 mcm falling on the Ma'an Governorate, followed by 109 mcm on Amman, 87 mcm on Aqaba, 54 mcm on Mafraq, 44 mcm on Tafilah, and 40 mcm on Karak.
ALSO READ:
The rains have also triggered landslides and the partial collapse of a dam
world1 day ago
Around 33 million students will return to schools, which will hold classes on Saturdays until further notice
world1 day ago
To date, the country has delivered more than 31,000 tonnes of urgent humanitarian supplies
world1 day ago
The Prime Minister hardened his rejection of Hamas demands for an end to the Gaza war
world1 day ago
Israel had claimed in January that an Al Jazeera staff journalist and a freelancer killed in an airstrike in Gaza were 'terror operatives'
world1 day ago
Negotiators have proposed a 40-day pause in the fighting and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners
world1 day ago
The incident comes after New South Wales police last month charged several boys with terrorism-related offences
world1 day ago
A UNESCO report found that journalists and news outlets reporting on environmental issues dealt with about 750 attacks in the past 15 years
world2 days ago