Several European countries will send fire -fighting aircraft in Israel on Thursday to help turn off a solid forest fire that started on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: “We are now in a national emergency, not just a premises”, in a video statement recorded on Wednesday evening, while the fire approached Jerusalem.
“The priority right now is to defend Jerusalem,” added Netanyahu.
Italy, Croatia, Spain, France and Romania should send planes to Israel, while several other countries, including northern Macedonia and Cyprus, should send breathtaking planes.
The fire was powered by hot and dry conditions, before being stretched by strong winds which quickly led the flames to burn through a pine forest.
According to Israeli authorities, 10 fire -fighting planes operated Thursday morning, while eight other planes should arrive during the day.
The main highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv reopened, after being extinguished Wednesday due to flames encroaching on the road, leading the drivers to abandon their cars and to flee from terror.
Israel’s emergency services Magen David Ambulance said that at least 12 people were treated in hospitals on Wednesday – mainly due to smoke inhalation – while 10 other people were treated on the ground.
The moment of forest fires coincides with the day of independence of Israel, which is generally marked by large Barbois on parks and forests.
This time, Israel's fire and rescue services warned the public to stay far from parks or forests and be exceptionally careful while lighting barbecues.
In 2010, a solid forest fire burned for four days on the Mount Carmel in the north of Israel, affirming 44 lives and destroying around 12,000 acres, a large part of the woods.
