Israelis rescue selves after being stranded along Bolivian river

Group of backpackers originally called for help after raft capsized in heavy rains, leaving them without food or equipment

A group of nine Israeli tourists were briefly stranded in the Bolivian jungle after their raft capsized on a surging river following heavy rains.

The group eventually made it to a nearby village, but not before a rescue mission was dispatched Saturday to save the group of backpackers, all in their early 20s.

The group’s rafting trip along the Rio Verde was thrown off when heavy rains that soaked the region over the weekend caused the river to gain strength, damaging their raft and other equipment, and leaving them without food according to a spokesperson for the Magnus rescue agency.

The group, which had a satellite phone, was in contact with the Magnus rescue agency and the Israeli Embassy in La Paz after being stuck for over a day, the foreign ministry said.

They were said to all be in good condition, and were able to leave the area once the rains let up on Saturday, Israel’s Channel 2 news reported.