Egypt condoles with Jordan over flash flood deaths

CAIRO - 26 October 2018: President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi expressed his condolences to King Abdullah II of Jordan for the victims of flash floods hitting areas in the Dead Sea on the back of heavy quick rain battering the kingdom.

This came in a phone call between the two sides during which Sisi asserted Egypt’s support for Jordan in face of this natural disaster and readiness to help in any way needed, presidential spokesman Bassam Radi said.

In an official statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry offered its condolences to the families of the victims, and wished speedy recovery for the injured people.

Moreover, Al Azhar and its Grand Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb expressed deep sorrow for the victims of flash floods hitting areas in the Dead Sea on the back of heavy quick rain battering Jordan.

At least 18 people died, dozens went missing and 34 were rescued by Thursday evening from the flash floods in the hot springs area near the Dead Sea, according to Jordanian authorities.

The majority of those killed, rescued and reported missing were students on a school trip to the Zara Maeen hot springs area, said the Civil Defence Department (CDD) in press statements.

“A major rescue operation entailing scores of people from different state agencies as well as several rescue helicopters and boats, marine divers and swimmers are at the site now to rescue trapped people and search for missing ones,” an officer at the CDD’s press department said.

The press officer said there was no information yet on the age of those killed in the flashflood and highlighted that those rescued suffered mild to serious injuries.

According to The Jordan Times the kingdom’s Prime Minister Omar Razza oversaw the rescue operation and instructed state agencies on Thursday to provide all needed assistance to ensure the safety of the students.

“The number of those killed in the flash flood is expected to increase because many were reported to have been swept away by the raging water,” the officer said.