The forest fires that were declared near Jerusalem were mostly controlled on Thursdayaccording to the authorities, which The main roads reopened While fire teams continued to fight against persistent foci.
The fire, which was declared on Wednesday Throughout the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Avivcaused generalized evacuations and road closure, while firefighters fought throughout the night to contain what the authorities have described as the largest fire of the last ten years.
“The fire is controlled”, Said Shlomi Harush, a high position of the Fire Extinction Service.
“All teams remain deployed in affected areas”He told the AFPwarning that strong winds could revive the flames.
In Latrunabout 25 kilometers from Jerusalem, The smoke was still coming out of a monastery While firefighters sprinkled water on smoking embers, according to an AFP journalist present at the scene.
They also left civilians to help turn off the fire.
“We use water hoses connected to the houses And municipal taps installed along the streets, ”Ahmad Ibrahim, a resident of the Abu Ghosh village, told AFP.
“We act for concern for the community, trying to prevent fire from spreading and endangering residents or their homes.”
Previously, the Fire Service reported that 163 earth teams and 12 planes had mobilized To fight the fire, which has calcined some 13,000 hectares of forestaccording to the police.
The Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He had warned of Wednesday that the flames could reach Jerusalem, declaring the situation “National emergency.”
Police confirmed on Thursday that all the main routes, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor, had been reopened.
“All routes have been reopened to traffic”they said in a statement, adding that it had been allowed to return to the residents of the evacuated settlement of Mavo Horon.
The authorities were also ordered to expedite the return of other displaced residents.
Although Several acts of Independence Day were canceled scheduled for Wednesday night, the celebrations resumed Thursday despite the operations of outgoing fires ongoing.
The National Security Minister, Itamar Ben TrueHe has suggested that the fires could be caused.
He Times of Israel He informed that Netanyahu said in an event held in Jerusalem on Thursday that the authorities were “Stopping 18 people suspected of having caused firesone of which was surprised in fraganti. ”
Although forest fires are not unheard of in Israel at this time of year, they are not considered usual.
Magen David Adom rescue agency reported that there were served 23 people on Wednesdaymost by inhalation of smoke and burns.
Seventeen firefighters were injuredaccording to the public chain Kan.
The Israeli army said his staff was helping in Jerusalem and other central districts.
They deployed Engineering vehicles “to form lines that prevent the fire from extending”, He said in a statement, in which the Air Forces also collaborated and about 50 fire trucks were sent.
Fueled by strong windsthe fire spread rapidly through wooded areas on Wednesdaycausing the evacuation of at least five communities, police said.
“It is very sad because we knew the weather conditions, We knew this was going to happenand yet we feel that they were not prepared enough with the large planes that can launch large amounts of water, ”he told Wednesday to the AFP Yuval Aharoni, 40, evacuated.
“A lot of police arrived, many firefighters, but in reality it was no use. The fire had already completely seized the entire area here,” said Yosef Aaron Aaron from the arbitrary of a highway, with the flames visible in the distance.
Late on Wednesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that The arrival of fire extinguishing aircraft from Croatia, France, Italy, Romania and Spain was expected To join the operation.
Chipre and Serbia also announced the sending of fire extinguishing helicopters to Israel.
(With AFP information)
