Last of 21 Jordan flood victims identified, revealing burial mixup

Last of 21 Jordan flood victims identified, revealing burial mixup
The last of 21 victims of flash flooding in Jordan has been identified following flash flooding near the Dead Sea on Thursday.
1 min read
28 October, 2018
Flash flooding has hit several parts of the Middle East this month [AFP]

A pathologist says the last of 21 victims of a recent flash flood in Jordan has been identified after DNA testing showed that one family inadvertently buried the wrong child.

The flood, caused by heavy rains, had swept away middle school students and their teachers while they were visiting hot springs near the Dead Sea on Thursday.

Twenty victims were swiftly buried, but the body of one girl could not immediately be identified.

Dr. Ahmed Bani Hani, director of the National Center for Forensic Medicine, said on Saturday that testing showed that a family that lost twin girls in the flood had inadvertently buried a girl from another family.

The official news agency Petra quoted Bani Hani as saying both families have been notified. Funeral arrangements were not immediately clear.

The low-lying Dead Sea area is prone to flash flooding when rain water rushes down from adjacent hills. In April, 10 Israeli students were killed in a flash flood while on a hiking trip near the sea.