A flash flood killed 10 Israeli high school seniors who were on a hike in the southern Dead Sea area on Thursday.
The teens were on a trip to the Arava Desert as part of a pre-military preparatory program when they were caught in the flash flood. About 15 of the students were rescued, some of them injured, but nine girls and one boy were killed. One girl was still missing on Thursday night, but her body was found early Friday.
The victims were identified as Ilan Bar-Shalom, Ella Or, Maayan Barhoum, Yael Sadan, Shani Shamir, Romi Cohen, Agam Levy, Tzur Alfi, Gali Balali and Adi Raanan. They came from towns across Israel.
On Thursday, police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said 25 students from the Bnei Zion pre-military academy had been hiking in Nahal Tzafit, a normally dry riverbed, when they were "caught off guard" by a flash flood caused by the heavy rains that have struck Israel in recent days, and some were "swept away."
Police arrested the director and a staff member of the pre-military program on Friday morning on suspicion of negligent homicide, as weather forecasts had warned of potential floods prior to the hike.
A day before the trip, several of the hikers expressed deep apprehension over the planned hike, due to the inclement weather and the expected flash floods.
One of the girls who was killed prophetically texted some of her friends hours before her death.
"This is tempting fate. We will die. I'm serious," she wrote. "I can't believe that I'm actually going on a trip in this weather. It makes no sense for us to go to a place where everything is flooded."
A friend texted back, "It's really weird that they let you out like that, excuse me."
But another friend tried to assuage the hikers' concerns, writing, "I assume they know what they're doing and they will take you to other places and you'll sleep in a closed place."
The bus driver who drove the hikers told Israel Hayom he had seen the students before the tragedy.
"They were content, dancing and happy. They were waiting for this trip with such anticipation," he said.
President Reuven Rivlin expressed his profound sorrow after the incident, tweeting, "The State of Israel is mourning the loss of young promising lives in this terrible tragedy."
He said Israel "embraces" the grieving families and wishes the injured a speedy recovery.
Heavy rainfall has been recorded across Israel over the past two days. The downpour caused parts of Israel's security barrier with the West Bank to collapse, according to the police.
The Dead Sea, the world's lowest point at about 1,400 feet below sea level, is surrounded by desert and generally arid cliffs. When rain falls, it can come rushing down the steep descents, causing sudden and violent torrents in otherwise dry spots.
Victim Ella Or was a 12th grader at AMIT Torah, Arts and Sciences High School for Girls in her hometown, Maaleh Adumim. Her mother, Sarit Angel Or, is the principal of the AMIT Yaffe Nof Elementary School in Maaleh Adumim. On Thursday night, teachers and staff joined counselors from school and the municipality's education department to speak with classmates and provide psychological support.
The Maaleh Adumim municipality issued a statement extending condolences "to the families of the young men and women swept away in the terrible tragedy in the south, including the family of Ella Or of blessed memory, the daughter of Maaleh Adumim residents Itzhak and Sarit Or. The city, pained and shocked, embraces the family and extends its deepest sympathies."
The AMIT school network said in a statement, "We are shocked by the death of our beloved student in the terrible tragedy. Ella was a charming young woman with big dreams who was beloved by her friends and teachers."
Brenda Parver Horowitz described Ella Or as "one of the best students, a girl with a can-do attitude who was always willing to help and do for others. She combined a love for her country and a love for the Jewish people through great faith. One of the things that was most important for her was the unity of the Jewish people, so she chose to go to a preparatory program that includes all sectors of society."
Victim Tzur Alfi, from Mazkeret Batya, was a student at the Yitzhak Rabin Branco Weiss High School. His classmates described him as a "wonderful person" who was the "salt of the earth, funny, and full of love." He is survived by his parents and sister.
Agam Levy attended the Dror Experimental Education High School in the Lev Hasharon Regional Council. Inna Weinberg, her homeroom teacher, said Levy "combined excellence in her studies with volunteer activity in the school and youth movement. She was beloved and appreciated by her teachers and friends. This is a difficult time for all of us. We offer our condolences to the family."
