Putin offers condolences to King of Jordan over deadly flood

Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed condolences to King Abdullah II of Jordan over numerous deaths when a school bus was swept away by flash flood near the Dead Sea, the Kremlin website said on Friday.

On Thursday, a bus with 37 schoolchildren and seven teachers was heading for a sightseeing trip from Amman to the Dead Sea when it was swept away by flash flood after heavy rainfall. Nineteen people were killed, with children under 14 among them. Three of those killed were Iraqi nationals.

"We offer our deepest condolences on the deaths of the bus passengers in a tragic accident near the Dead Sea. It is especially grieving that most of the victims of this catastrophe are children," the message says.

"Please, convey the words of sincere commiseration and support to the families of those killed and wishes of the soonest recovery to all those hurt," the Russian president said in the message.

The Jordan River valley near the Dead Sea is thought to world’s lowest place. The area is often hit by flash floods that occur after torrential rains in the surrounding hilly places.