Rains, floods claim eight lives in Jordan

Heavy rains and flooding killed at least eight people in Jordan and forced authorities to evacuate more than 3,700 tourists from the ancient city of Petra on Friday, officials said.

The visitors were taken to safe areas before flash floods inundated parts of the mountainous city famed for its carved rock ruins, government spokeswoman Jumana Ghunaimat said.

Authorities declared a state of emergency in the Red Sea port city of Aqaba further south as downpours started in the afternoon, reports Reuters.