Floodwaters claim lives of Syrians forced to cross border near Lebanon
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – Syrian media reported on Sunday that several Syrians drowned while attempting to cross from Lebanon into Syrian territory after being forced to traverse a border riverbed in the Talkalakh area, amid severe flooding.
According to the reports, Syrian Civil Defense teams rescued three people, a man and two women, who were still alive.
They received first aid at the scene, while search operations continue for those still missing, including an elderly man, two women, and five children, in coordination with the Syrian forces.
The incident occurred in the al-Shabrouniyah area of Talkalakh’s countryside. Information indicated that the Lebanese army had pushed several Syrian families toward the border river, forcing them to cross on foot despite dangerously high water levels caused by flooding.
The Syrian Ministry of Emergency and Disaster Management told the state-run SANA news agency that it had received reports of people drowning near al-Shabrouniyah village, noting that two women and a young man were recovered.
The ministry added that survivors reported their group originally consisted of 11 people, four of whom managed to return to Lebanese territory, while others were swept away by floodwaters.
It also stated that rescue teams attempted to continue search operations inside the riverbed but were unable to proceed due to landmines left behind from the al-Assad regime along the riverbanks.