Forest fires continue – state of emergency declared in Israel
Forest fires continue to rage in Israel and water-bombing planes are on the way, Israeli authorities announced, according to AP. President Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a state of emergency.
There are fires in several places but the largest fire is concentrated around the town of Neve Shalom, west of Jerusalem, on the border with occupied Palestinian land. Authorities say there is no information about how the fire started, but Israeli police have said that one person has been arrested “on suspicion of trying to start a fire in an open field,” reports CNN.
Several countries are to send aircraft to the affected areas to try to put out the fires.
The Israeli government is accused of not taking the fire threat in Israel seriously, writes The Times of Israel. The criticism is directed at the fact that the budget for the fire department has been cut and that the National Security Council has ignored calls to discuss preparations for forest fires.
Forest fires continue to rage in Israel and water-bombing planes are on the way, Israeli authorities announced, according to AP. President Benjamin Netanyahu has declared a state of emergency.
There are fires in several places but the largest fire is concentrated around the town of Neve Shalom, west of Jerusalem, on the border with occupied Palestinian land. Authorities say there is no information about how the fire started, but Israeli police have said that one person has been arrested “on suspicion of trying to start a fire in an open field,” reports CNN.
Several countries are to send aircraft to the affected areas to try to put out the fires.
The Israeli government is accused of not taking the fire threat in Israel seriously, writes The Times of Israel. The criticism is directed at the fact that the budget for the fire department has been cut and that the National Security Council has ignored calls to discuss preparations for forest fires.
Thousands evacuated from forest fires in Israel
Massive forest fires have broken out outside Jerusalem, and more than 7,000 have been evacuated, Israeli media reports.
The fires are mainly concentrated along the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which has been closed.
Strong winds are making the situation worse, and the fires are expected to continue spreading for at least another day, according to fire chief Eyal Caspi.
“The situation is getting worse. The aircraft cannot assist because of the winds,” he says.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared a national emergency and mobilized the defense. Italy and Croatia have sent firefighting aircraft to the country.
Massive forest fires have broken out outside Jerusalem, and more than 7,000 have been evacuated, Israeli media reports.
The fires are mainly concentrated along the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which has been closed.
Strong winds are making the situation worse, and the fires are expected to continue spreading for at least another day, according to fire chief Eyal Caspi.
“The situation is getting worse. The aircraft cannot assist because of the winds,” he says.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has declared a national emergency and mobilized the defense. Italy and Croatia have sent firefighting aircraft to the country.
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