Authorities do not rule out arson or a terrorist attack as the cause of one of the largest disasters in the country’s history
Israel has declared the highest level of emergency due to large-scale wildfires that broke out on the hills surrounding Jerusalem. This was reported by WNTab on Thursday, May 1, citing the BBC.
Rescue services reported six ignition points. Due to intense heat and strong winds, the fire quickly spread across the hills of Jerusalem. The nation’s capital has effectively been cut off by flames — only one highway remains open for evacuation, but traffic is severely hindered by congestion. On some roads, drivers abandoned their vehicles.
Emergency officials are already calling the blaze one of the largest in the country’s history. Firefighters and IDF units have been deployed to battle the flames. The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank was among the first to offer assistance. Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Croatia, and Bulgaria have sent helicopters and aircraft to support the firefighting efforts.
Six settlements located near the fire’s epicenter have been evacuated. According to the latest reports, 16 people have been injured, but their lives are not in danger.
The government is considering all possible causes of the fire, including deliberate arson and a terrorist attack.
Earlier, WNTab reported on a large-scale power grid failure in Western Europe.
