Karak: Minister of Public Works and Housing Maher Abu Al-Saman, Minister of Interior Mazen Faraya, and Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Imad Hijazeen conducted a field visit to Karak to evaluate the damage caused by torrential rains and flooding over the past 48 hours.
According to Jordan News Agency, the tour commenced at the Karak Governorate building, where Governor Qablan Sharif, the Director of Public Works, and heads of municipal committees briefed the ministers on the extraordinary challenges faced by field teams. The officials highlighted that Karak experienced unprecedented rainfall, equating to almost one-third of its annual average within just two days, heavily stressing infrastructure and public services.
The situation revealed existing regulatory shortcomings, such as encroachments and construction in natural floodplains, alongside the limited technical and financial capabilities of some municipalities to handle extreme weather conditions. Minister Abu Al-Saman commended the emergency teams for their around-the-clock efforts, noting that the ministry mobilized all resources to support municipalities, clear debris, and reopen closed roads within their administrative boundaries.
Abu Al-Saman emphasized the events in Karak as a clear indication of the growing impact of climate change, which is creating a new reality characterized by extreme rainfall. He stressed the need for moving beyond temporary solutions towards re-engineering critical sites to accommodate large water flows and announced the immediate launch of technical studies to reconstruct damaged areas, particularly the Ghor Numeira road, which was severely affected by flash floods.
Minister Faraya underscored the importance of sustained coordination among security, civil defense, and relevant agencies to ensure a rapid response and prevent loss of life. He cautioned that construction in valleys and floodplains poses a serious risk, advocating for close cooperation between local communities and authorities to address and prevent such violations in future rainy seasons.
Minister Hijazeen emphasized the necessity of a comprehensive solution to the collapse of a section of the ancient wall at historic Karak Castle. The ministers inspected the Karak Gate project site adjacent to the collapsed section and directed that a thorough engineering study be conducted to determine the technical causes of the collapse. Hijazeen highlighted the growing threats of climate change, increased soil moisture, and intensified water flows to archaeological and heritage sites, calling for precise scientific intervention to preserve the castle's historical identity.
The ministers continued their tour with visits to areas severely affected by the floods, including the town of Iraq, where they met with residents and reviewed damage to private property. They also inspected the town of Taybeh, accompanied by Member of Parliament Hussein Tarawneh, and assessed the condition of local roads. Minister Abu Al-Saman instructed relevant teams to begin immediate repairs on the Kharza road linking Karak with the Jordan Valley, ensuring traffic flow and road safety.
The comprehensive rehabilitation of all affected areas will be undertaken in alignment with current and future climate challenges.