Search for man swept away in Zarqa flooding continues

AMMAN — The search for Hamza Khatib, a man who was swept away by torrential waters in Wadi Al Qamar in Zarqa, intensified on Monday after directives from the Public Security Department (PSD).

Director of the PSD Maj. Gen. Hussein Hawatmeh on Monday instructed concerned authorities to expand the scope of the search and reinforce efforts to find the young man, who went missing on Wednesday night. 

Khatib was reported to have been swept away by the torrent while he was getting out of his car. Although he could swim, he was reportedly unable to resist the powerful current of water.

The 26-year-old was reported to have climbed on top of his car in an attempt to escape the waves, but the heavy downpour of rain pushed him into the torrent. 

Hawatmeh directed authorities to harness all available technical and human capacities to intensify the organised search along the stream, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.

The PSD called on human and mechanical reinforcements through a special tasks battalion of the gendarmerie forces and a company from the Desert Brigade Command of the police forces to support the efforts made by Civil Defence Department (CDD).

Drones and cameras connected with the command control circled over the rugged areas. Trained search dogs were used, in addition to search and inspection boats at King Talal Dam.

On Monday, specialised rescue and diving teams and the Civil Defence Department’s international search and rescue team continued their work alongside civil defence volunteers and groups from the local community.