Lebanon launches investigation into death of Egyptian tourist

Lebanese Minister of Tourism Michel Pharaon said Saturday the ministry has launched an investigation to uncover the circumstances of the fall and demise of an Egyptian tourist in the waters of Jeita Grotto.

An Egyptian tourist drowned earlier in the day in the Lower Grotto of Jeita that lies in Kesrouan district, some 20 kilometers north of Beirut.

General-manager of the company which runs the grotto Nabil Haddad told local media that Mina Ashraf Wadih fell in the water and was swept away by the current.

The company said the facility will be closed on Sunday.

The tourism ministry launched an investigation into the tourist's death after Civil Defense rescuers were able to pull his body from the water.

Civil Defense said it took divers more than 90 minutes to find the body, which was at a depth of eight meters in the freezing water.

Jeita has the Upper Grotto where visitors make walking tours to explore the stalactites and stalagmites and the Lower Grotto where people can make small cruises in rowboats.

Source: MENA