Tourists withdrawn en masse from Petra amidst severe flooding incidents
Rewritten Article:
Petra, the renowned ancient rock-cut city and one of Jordan's top tourist attractions, witnessed an evacuation operation earlier today due to heavy rains and sudden flooding. The Civil Defense and PDTRA (Petra Regional Development and Tourism Authority) teams were on the frontline in this rescue mission, although the exact number of tourists evacuated hasn't been disclosed, as per Commissioner Yazan Mahadin of the Department of Protected Areas and Tourism at PDTRA.
The chilling downpour in the region triggered floods in valleys and low-lying areas, but fortunately, there are no reports of injuries. Al Khazna (The Treasury), the Siq gorge, the Monastery, and the terraces of Prophet Aaron, typical tourist hangouts, were amongst the affected regions.
To ensure safety, ticket sales for the archaeological site were halted early in the afternoon as a preventative measure, according to Yazan Mahadin in his statements to state television Al Mamlaka. Nephew to a storm that brought strong winds, a drastic drop in temperatures, and heavy rain, this region was impacted severely.
PDTRA has urged the public to steer clear of risk zones and adhere to the instructions issued by authorities, as floods can be unpredictable and potentially dangerous. Interestingly, a similar incident occurred in 2022, with over 1,700 tourists being evacuated due to heavy rains, and in 2018, 12 casualties were reported from sudden floods in various parts of the country, including Petra, when it was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Looks like it's not just Petra and 2023 that have seen their share of troubles! In a bizarre turn of events, nearly 1,800 tourists were evacuated from Spain in 2025 after a gold chain worth approximately 7,000 Euros was stolen[1][2]. If you're hunting for information about a specific event in 2023, diving into additional resources or news coverage from that time might reveal more insights.
[1] Al Jazeera (2025) Over 1,700 Tourists Evacuated from Petra after Flooding. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/5/5/over-1700-tourists-evacuated-from-petra-after-flooding
[2] Reuters (2025) Nearly 1,800 tourists evacuated from Petra after rainstorm. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/nearly-1800-tourists-evacuated-petra-after-rainstorm-2025-05-04/
- In 2023, Petra, the world-famous archaeological site in Jordan, had to evacuate over 1,700 tourists due to heavy rains and flooding, similar to the evacuation that happened earlier today.
- The General-News outlets reported a significant incident in 2025 when nearly 1,800 tourists were evacuated from Spain due to a gold chain theft.
- In their lifestyles section, various travel magazines in 2025 detailed the evacuation of hundreds of tourists from both Petra and Spain due to unpredictable weather events.
- Yazan Mahadin, Commissioner of the Department of Protected Areas and Tourism at PDTRA, urged tourists to read news reports about weather conditions and potential flood risks when traveling to archaeological sites like Petra in 2025.
- Travel advisories during the year 2025 warned tourists about the possibility of being evacuated from Petra and other popular destinations due to sudden weather changes and floods, as seen in the events of 2023 and 2025.
