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Ammon News - ** Southern roads blockaded because of snow, sleet in Wadi Araba, Aqaba
** 40 tourists evacuated after being stranded in Petra
** Rain water floods homes, stores in Tafileh
** 20 homes flooded in Aqaba


AMMONNEWS - Severe weather conditions are affecting the southern regions in Jordan, as rain continues to affect the rest of the Kingdom throughout Friday, and is expected to continue on Saturday.

A water drainage pipe in Dheiban, Madaba Governorate near Princess Salama Hpsital burst on Friday evening causing severe water torrents, drowning a pick-up truck and drifting it into the valley, along with an individual believed to be the driver, eye witnesses told 'Ammon News.'

Public Security Directorate (PSD) and Civil Defense (CD) forces rushed to the scene and searched for the driver of the vehicle, which drowned in a 4-meter deep pool of water and mud, but the search was not successful in locating the driver.

*** Flooding of Al Walah Dam

Al Walah Dam, south of Madaba, flooded after water levels exceeded the capacity of the dam, flooding water to over 3 meters above levels under a bridge that links Madaba and Karak governorates.

*** Southern Roads blockaded

Security cadres and highway troopers blockaded the Bi'r Mathkoor highway leading to Aqaba for intense flooding caused by heavy rainfall in the Wadi Araba region, about 115 kilometers north of Aqaba.

Security sources told 'Ammon News' that traffic on Bi'r Mathkoor highway was blocked because of flooding, causing Public Works cadres to rush to the region to open water drainage systems.

*** 40 tourists evacuated

Forty tourists were stranded Friday afternoon in the southern ancient city of Petra.

Civil Defense forces evacuated the stranded tourists (of various nationalities) and transported them to Ayel Health Center to ensure their safety before taking them back to Petra after roads were cleared. The press office at PSD said that all tourists are in good condition and no one was hurt.

Eye witnesses are reporting that Petra, Al Taybeh, AL Rajef regions continue to witness heavy rainfall accompanied by hail mixed with snow and sleet. Accumulation of snow blocked many local roads Friday night in Petra.

Jordan News Agency had reported Friday night that the bus, which carried the tourists, was heading from the Red Sea city of Aqaba to Petra area, but failed to reach its destination due to the accumulation of snow on Wadi Musa highway, said Civil Defense sources in Ma'an governorate.

*** Water floods homes, stores in Taflieh

Heavy rainfall caused water to flood over 10 homes and stores in different areas in Taflieh governorate on Friday. No injuries were reported.

Most flooded homes and stores are in low elevation areas. Civil Defense cadres worked on draining water from the homes, stores and several street intersections where strong water torrents had formed.

Tafileh had been affected by heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms and gusty winds as a result of the depression affecting the kingdom.

Citizens are precaution of driving considering low visibility on major roads caused by heavy fog.

*** Homes flooded in Aqaba

12 families in Rahma, in the southern port city of Aqaba were evacuated when water flooded their homes as a result of heavy rainfall. The families were transported to Rahma School, where blankets, pillows and food supplies had been provided for the families donated by Minister of Social Development Hala Lattouf Bseiso and the Jordanian Red Crescent.

Minister of Interior Nayef Al Qadi had phoned Aqaba Governor Zaid Zreiqat to check up on conditions in Aqaba after severe water torrents and flooding occurred in the city of Aqaba and around 20 homes were also flooded.