Volunteers from the Meillot Search and Rescue Units searched the Nachal Og hiking trail for four hikers who began their trek early on Sunday afternoon and were not seen or heard from for a period of more than six hours. After an exhaustive search involving four complete teams of volunteers, the hikers were located at the entrance to Mitzpe Yericho alive and in good health.

The four hikers, who have been identified as Charedi men, had not made contact with anyone since entering the trail in an attempt to hike the circular (and shorter) trail near Kibbutz Almog near the northern end of the Dead Sea.

In a report on the situation, Bichadrei Charedim stated that the men, who are all yeshiva students from Jerusalem, were on their Bein Hazmanim vacation and contacted family members to let them know that they began their hike around 4:30 p.m. They were located close to 11 p.m. Israel time.

The average length of the hiking trail is between one to two hours for young men of their age, hence the worry now that night had fallen and more than six hours have passed since anyone had heard from them.

Family members fearing the worst contacted the police division for Judea and Samaria asking for their help. The police alerted and initialized the Search and Rescue Units and according to a spokesperson for the unit, four teams entered the wadi in search of the young men in hopes of locating them healthy and alive and just before 11 p.m. their efforts were successful.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)