Jordan opens probe into deadly school trip to Dead Sea

Jordan’s Ministry of Education opened an investigation on the tragic incident that saw at least 21 people killed, mostly school children in flashfloods in the Dead Sea area on Thursday, according to the ministry spokesperson Waleed al-Jallad.

He said that the probe aims to assess the facts surrounding the incident and clarify it, stressing the keenness of the Ministry of Education to cooperate fully with all concerned parties in this case.

Earlier reports suggested that the school which carried out the bus trip with the victims on board violated the instructions and changed the permitted route to al-Azraq region (an eco-tourism destination in Jordan’s eastern desert) not to the Dead Sea, due to the bad weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Royal Hashemite Court announced on Friday that Jordan flag at its main entrance would be flown at half-mast for three days to mourn the tragic loss of lives. Read more