One of the 10 students killed in the flash flood in Nachal Tzafit in the Aravah on Thursday texted her friend the day before that she feared for her life ahead of the planned hiking trip.

In WhatsApp messages that were published by the Chadashot News Website, the girl wrote:

“I can’t believe that I’m actually going out on a trip in this weather. It’s not logical that we should go to a place that is completely flooded. It’s tempting fate.

We’ll die! I am serious,” she wrote.

Her friend responded by saying not to worry as they would be going to somewhere else that was safe.

The school reportedly told the students the hike would be “fun and wet and an experience.”

According to the messages sent to students, they were told to bring “a rain coat,” “a rain cover for your bags” and “a change of dry clothes in case you need it.”

The message added: “Don’t worry… We are well-equipped for the hike and the academy has checked with the relevant authorities.”

As YWN reported, 10 students from the Bnei Tzion pre-military academy in Tel Aviv were R”L killed on Thursday afternoon, when they were swept away in flash-flooding.

Israel’s rescue service says all the victims were 18 years old. Israeli media say that nine of the fatalities were female and one was male. 9 victims were found during the afternoon, and the last was found at night after an hours-long continued search.

9 of the ten fatalities were identified as of Thursday night: Shani Shamir from the central city of Shoham; Ella Or from Ma’ale Adumim; Maayan Barhum and Yael Sadan from Jerusalem; Tzur Alfi, the only boy who was killed, from the central town of Mazkeret Batya; Agam Levy from the central Israeli town of Herut, Romi Cohen of Maor, near Hadera, Gali Belali from Givatayim and Adi Ra’anan from Mikhmoret.

The Dead Sea, the world’s lowest point at about 1,400 feet below sea level, is surrounded by desert and generally arid cliffs. Rain can come rushing down the steep descents, causing sudden and violent torrents in otherwise dry spots.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)