Region | Jordan
Middle East suffers heavy snowfall
Three people have been killed by an Avalanche in the province of Nabatiyeh, snow covered most mountains of Lebanon's western range
- Agencies
- Published: 12:41 January 30, 2008
- Image Credit: AP
- The streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah were deserted after heavy snow blocked roads.
Nabatiyeh: Three people have been killed by an Avalanche in the province of Nabatiyeh on Wednesday, snow covered most mountains of Lebanon's western range.
Heavy snowfall has swept through many countries in the region including Iran, Palestine, Lebanon and Jordan.
The streets of the West Bank city of Ramallah were deserted after heavy snow blocked roads.
In Amman, Jordanians pelted snowballs at each other as a heavy snowstorm battered the country, stranding motorists, cutting off villages and sparking appeals to citizens to remain indoors.
"We're playing in the snow because we miss it since we get to see it only once or twice a year," said Ebrahim Saadeh, 28, as he built a snowman.
Children sledded on inflatable tubes and plastic bowls as snow plows tried to open streets clogged with one foot of snow.
Meteorologists said temperatures dropped below zero since the snow began to fall early on Wednesday, accompanied by gusty winds and hail.
Police warned that roads in the capital and highways linking the capital were temporarily closed.
Announcements broadcast on state television appealed for citizens to remain indoors to avoid the dangers of icy roads.
The Civil Defense said it rescued some 200 motorists in the capital since early morning, though there were no immediate reports of injuries in this country accustomed to mild winters.
Still, four years ago Jordan was hit by a blizzard that dumped several feet of snow and was described as the kingdom's worst storm since 1950.
In the latest storm, western and northern parts of Jordan received some 50 centimeters (1.6 feet) of snow and more is expected through on Thursday, said Abdul Halim Abu Hazim, the head of Jordan's Meteorology Department.
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