Jordan flash floods kill 21 people, many of them school children on bus
Civil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
AMMAN (Reuters) - Rescuers combed the shores of Jordan's Dead Sea early on Friday, searching for survivors, after flash floods killed at least 21 people, most of them school children in a bus that was swept away.
The floods, which followed torrential rain, poured through valleys and deep ravines sweeping people, vehicles and livestock to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth.
Civil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
Thirty-seven people were rescued in a major operation involving helicopters and divers, civil defense sources said. Rescue operations continued for other possible survivors.
The school bus that was swept away carried 44 children and teachers who were on a school picnic trip in the popular tourist spot, police chief Brigadier General Farid al Sharaa told state television.
The majority of dead were schoolchildren. The dead also included three Iraqis and a 20-year-old woman who was with the children on the school bus, a civil defense source said.
Civil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
King Abdullah described the disaster as a "huge tragedy that hurt all of us" and the national flag was lowered in mourning as public opinion and politicians began raising questions in local media outlets about the preparedness of emergencies services to cope with such a disaster.
Prime Minister Omar Razzaz said it appeared the school had broken regulations by going ahead with the trip, which had been banned in the Dead Sea area because of bad weather. He also called for an investigation into infrastructure in the area.
Health Minister Ghazi al Zibn said most of the injured had left the hospital in the area near the Dead Sea. At least eight people were still missing, a medical source said.
Civil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
A bridge on one of the cliffs of the Dead Sea collapsed under the force of the rains, the first such after the end of summer.
Neighboring Israel sent search-and-rescue helicopters to assist, an Israeli military statement said. The team, dispatched at Amman's request, was operating on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea.
A Jordanian official said Israel had offered to help and the kingdom requested a helicopter with the technology to find buried bodies in mud that would accelerate the searches.
Civil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
The kingdom, which shares the longest border with Israel and have a common peace treaty, has a long a history of cooperation with its neighbor in natural disasters.
Jordan helped Israel in 2016 with fire-fighting equipment after a rash of fires that burned for days, straining Israel firefighters.
An Israeli helicopter pilot who participated in the search said that close to 10 Israeli aircraft and drones had been deployed.
Relatives of victims look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
(Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Additional reporting by Ori Lewis in Jerusalem editing by Richard Balmforth)
A general view of the location where rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedCivil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA member of the civil defense stands near an ambulance as they search for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA civil defense member looks forsurvivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedCivil defense members gather to find survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA civil defense member walks as people gather to find survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA general view shows the location of the accident where rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA man looks for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA general view show the location of the accident where people, mainly schoolchildren and teachers, were killed on Thursday in a flash flood near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA general view show the location of the accident where people, mainly schoolchildren and teachers, were killed on Thursday in a flash flood near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedRelatives gather outside a hospital near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA child survivor is seen with relatives in a hospital near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA child survivor is helped as residents and relatives gather outside a hospital near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedA child survivor is helped as residents and relatives gather outside a hospital near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 25, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedCivil defense members look to find survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad HamedCivil defense members look for survivors after rain storms unleashed flash floods, near the Dead Sea, Jordan October 26, 2018. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed
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