Dead Sea highway, Ein Gedi reserve closed amid ongoing cleanup from Sunday deluge

Police say a section of a highway running along the Dead Sea remains closed as authorities clean up following floods that damaged the area Sunday.

Police do not give a timeline for when they hope to reopen Route 90, which is blocked off in both directions between Mitzpe Shalem and Metsuke Dragot, along with southerly traffic from Lido Junction at the northern end of the Dead Sea. The closed-off section is largely inside the West Bank.

Work is taking place to clear the road of boulders and other debris and to repair the roadway, which was inundated by flash floods as runoff from heavy rains on Sunday gushed toward the lowest spot on Earth.

An update is expected later in the day following a situational assessment, police say.

Sunday’s downpours also caused major damage to the Ein Gedi nature reserve, including an ancient synagogue, the Nature and Parks Authority says following a survey of the desert oasis, which is now closed to visitors.

“The flood that hit the Ein Gedi reserve was an extreme event of the type not seen in years,” the INPA says in a statement. “Many walking trails have completely disappeared, and some suffered significant damage from the runoff and strength of the flood.”

It adds that ruins of a third-century synagogue were inundated and will need to undergo extensive restoration and preservation work.

Extensive damage is also reported to roads leading into the reserve and other infrastructure.