Amid extreme winter weather, rescue workers save two hikers from floodwater near Dead Sea

Jerusalem men in their 20s to be brought for questioning by police after rescue.

By BEN HARTMAN
Emergency workers rescue two youth at Nahal Og (photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE)
Emergency workers rescue two youth at Nahal Og
(photo credit: ISRAEL POLICE)
Two Jerusalem men in their 20s will be brought for questioning by police in Maale Adumim on Thursday, after they were rescued in the earlier hours of the morning from a flooded creek bed where they traveled despite police warnings to the public.
The two men were rescued following hours of rescue efforts by police, Border Police, and IDF and volunteer search and rescue units. In the afternoon they began hiking from the area of Mitzpeh Jericho to Wadi Og northwest of the Dead Sea without notifying authorities. The creek bed was the site of heavy flooding, without notifying authorities ahead of time.
Judea and Samaria Police Commander Kobi Cohen said that while he’s pleased the men were rescued, their act showed great irresponsibility. He repeated calls made earlier this week by police to avoid traveling to areas where flash floods have been reported, and not to drive on washed-out roads.
The rainy weather continued on Thursday, though in Tel Aviv there was sunny weather for much of the day.
The Israel Meteorological Society said Wednesday that there has been more rain in central Israel this November than in any rainy season in the past 20 years, and that already the country has seen significantly more rain than is typical by late November.