Coastal Highway Rockslide in Aqaba: Falling Boulders Damage Two Vehicles and Leave Driver Injured

Aqaba, Jordan—Massive granite boulders tumbled down a steep coastal cliff face on Thursday afternoon, crashing directly onto the asphalt below. The sudden rockslide caught motorists by surprise along a winding section of the Aqaba coastal highway. Two passing vehicles took the brunt of the falling debris, crushing hoods and shattering windshields as drivers fought to brake.

Traffic ground to a complete halt in both directions as tons of rock and loose earth blocked the vital coastal corridor. Civil defense units, traffic police, and heavy machinery operators were dispatched immediately to clear the hazardous debris field. Paramedics treated one injured driver at the scene for cuts and severe shock before transferring him to the regional hospital.

Engineering squads inspected the towering cliffs overlooking the roadway to assess the risk of secondary rockfalls triggered by erosion. Authorities closed the highway stretch completely, diverting southbound and northbound transit onto alternative interior mountain roads. Heavy excavators pushed massive boulders off the tarmac while road maintenance crews cleared gravel from the lanes.

"The rocks came down like an avalanche right in front of my car," said a shaken motorist whose vehicle sustained severe front-end damage. "There was no time to swerve. The dust blinded everyone for a minute before we realized what happened."

Ministry of Public Works officials announced that geotechnical surveys will be conducted along the coastal cliff line to evaluate slope stability. Heavy equipment crews remain stationed near the site to monitor ground conditions and finalize roadway clearance. The highway is expected to remain closed to traffic until structural safety clearances are officially issued.