Nine young people die in flash floods

Nine teenagers have died in flash floods in Israel while hiking south of the Dead Sea.

The Israeli rescue service said they were all 18 years old. Israeli media said that eight of those killed were women and it was reported that another hiker is still missing.

Earlier, spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said 25 students in a pre-army course were “caught off guard” and some were “washed away” yesterday by heavy rains as they were hiking in the area.

The Dead Sea, the world’s lowest point at about 1,400 feet below sea level, is surrounded by desert and generally arid cliffs.