Belgian Woman and Son Confirmed Dead After Flash Flooding in Petra, Jordan; Tourists Evacuated from UNESCO Site
- Victor Nwoko
- May 5
- 2 min read
The bodies of a Belgian mother and her son were recovered on Monday in southern Jordan following a flash flood that swept through the ancient city of Petra on Sunday. The incident occurred after the woman and her three children went missing during a sudden flood in the Wadi al-Nakhil area. The other two children were found alive, according to Jordanian police.
The family had been part of a group of 18 tourists exploring the region when the flooding began. Fourteen members of the group, all Czech nationals, were rescued on Sunday. The local governor of Ma'an district, Hassan al-Jabour, stated that the search and rescue mission located the two surviving children late Sunday night. However, due to dangerous weather conditions and the challenging terrain, the operation was temporarily suspended at 2 a.m. and resumed at daybreak, leading to the discovery of the mother and son’s bodies.
The flash flood was triggered by heavy rainfall resulting from intense low-pressure weather conditions over southern Jordan. Torrents of water surged through Petra’s valleys and flooded the Siq, the narrow gorge that serves as the main entrance to the archaeological site. The ancient city, carved into red sandstone cliffs by the Nabateans over 2,300 years ago, is highly vulnerable to sudden flooding due to its topography.
In response to the emergency, the Petra Development and Tourism Region Authority (PDTRA) oversaw the evacuation of hundreds of tourists, with some reports indicating that up to 1,800 visitors were rescued. Emergency services also evacuated residents from low-lying homes, and videos showed vehicles submerged in flooded roads. The PDTRA urged the public to avoid valleys and heed safety advisories, while schools in the region were closed as a precaution.
Authorities had issued weather warnings prior to the flooding, which echoed previous deadly incidents. In 2018, over 30 people were killed in two separate flash floods near Petra and the Dead Sea, and three people died in 2021 after being swept away in their car by floodwaters.
Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, remains at risk of severe weather and landslides. Experts warn that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events in Jordan and across the MENA region, threatening both human lives and culturally significant heritage sites. UNESCO has labeled the Middle East as a climate change “ground zero,” emphasizing the region’s vulnerability.
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