One of the great wonders of the ancient world, Petra, a complex of temples carved into the rock within a large crevice in the southwest of Jordan, had to be evacuated this Sunday, as reported by Efe. Nearly 1,800 tourists were rescued from the archaeological site by rescue teams due to the floods in the area caused by the intense rains.
The Commissioner of the Department of Protected Areas and Tourism of the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA), Yazan Mahadin, reported that rescue teams from the PDTRA and the Civil Defense evacuated "hundreds of tourists in Petra".
He detailed that there were no injuries despite the intense rains that flooded the archaeological site, where tourists mainly visit the Treasury, the Siq, the Rasasa area, the Monastery, and the rooftops of the Prophet Aaron.
Mahadin also added, in statements to the Jordanian television Al Mamlaka, that the authority also suspended the sale of tickets to Petra from the early afternoon to ensure the safety of tourists.
Petra experienced heavy rains due to the arrival of a storm that affected the southern regions of Jordan, causing sudden floods in some valleys and low-lying areas, amid a significant drop in temperatures and strong winds.
The PDTRA urged the public to act with caution and to avoid valleys and areas with flood accumulation and rains, as well as to follow the instructions and guidelines issued by the competent authorities to ensure safety and avoid any risks arising from weather conditions.
In 2022, heavy rains forced authorities to evacuate over 1,700 tourists from the temple, although they pointed out that this phenomenon of floods has been recurring over the past 30 years.
Previously, in 2018, a total of 12 people died as victims of torrential rains in various areas of the country, which led to the evacuation of thousands of citizens and tourists from the monumental city of Petra.
The city of Petra is an archaeological site entirely carved into rock, dating back to the time of the Nabateans, around the 5th century BC, and is considered one of the most important treasures in the world.