No loss of life or injuries reported in Petra after flashfloods

AMMAN — Losses at the ancient site of Petra caused by Friday’s flashfloods were limited to infrastructure and some trees, Petra Development Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) Commissioner Suleiman Farajat said.

Jordan on Friday witnessed heavy rain accompanied by thunderstorms that flooded valleys and low-lying regions, resulting in 12 deaths and 29 injuries, as well as a number of missing people, according to the latest security sources’ reports.

Among the most affected regions were Dabaah and Heidan in Madaba, Maan and Petra.

“The site of Petra was immediately evacuated and tourists were taken back to their hotels or vehicles, recording no deaths or injuries,” Farajat told The Jordan Times in a phone interview, adding that all animals working in Petra, 220km southwest of Amman, were safe and taken back to their shelters.

PDTRA is currently working on fixing the site’s infrastructure, including the drainage system and roads in preparation of the reopening of Petra on Friday, the commissioner noted.

On Saturday, authorities decided to close all of the Kingdom’s touristic sites as a precautionary measure, triggering outrage from tourists, especially at sites that witnessed no floods at all.

The ancient city of Jerash, 48km north of Amman, saw hundreds of tourists being stuck at the entrance as they were not allowed to visit.

A tourist, who preferred to remain anonymous, said that she and her group paid money and came from Amman but were not able to enter Jerash.

She wondered why the site was closed as weather was “perfect” and sunny, adding that her group will not be able to come back as they were committed to an itinerary that included other sites.

Yousef Zreagat, member of the Jerash Governorate Council, said that the concerned agencies are working to ensure the safety of all people, including tourists.

“Flashfloods cannot be accurately predicted, which means they could happen within minutes, so it is better that everybody commits to the instructions of authorities”, he added.

Last month, Jordanians were bereaved when 21 people were killed after being swept away by a flashflood near the Dead Sea.