13-Year-Old Drowns in Jordan River, Search Continues for Missing Girl

A 13-year-old girl drowned Saturday afternoon in the Jordan River during a family outing near Lehavot HaBashan, after entering the water without her parents. Rescue teams are still searching for another 13-year-old relative who also disappeared in the river, and a rescue source said there is concern for her life.

According to the report, three girls entered the water together. Only one managed to get out on her own and alert authorities that the other two were missing. The first missing report reached emergency services around 5:00 p.m., and search efforts quickly expanded.

Police said many forces were at the scene, including an air unit helicopter, fire and rescue teams, and volunteer rescue personnel. Fire and Rescue Israel’s Northern District later said 13 teams were operating in the water, including on rescue boats, and that divers from the Lahava unit were carrying out underwater searches.

MDA paramedic Eli Ben Zaken said that after prolonged searches, firefighters brought out a girl about 13 years old who was unconscious and had no pulse or breathing. “We carried out medical checks, but unfortunately all we could do was pronounce her dead,” he said. Fire and Rescue commander Nathan Benshimol said teams were continuing to scan the water and banks, and that Lahava divers were entering the water with technological tools to locate the missing girl as quickly as possible.