Several European countries will send fire aircraft to Israel on Thursday to eliminate the massive wildfires that began on Wednesday.
“We are currently in a national emergency, not a local emergency,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared in a video statement recorded on Wednesday evening as the fire approached Jerusalem.
“The current priority is to defend Jerusalem,” Netanyahu added.
Italy, Croatia, Spain, France and Romania will be sending planes to Israel, while several other countries, including North Macedonia and Cyprus, will send planes to drop water.
The fire was fueled to a hot and dry state, and then the flame was quickly covered in strong winds, as if it were to burn feathers.
Israeli authorities say 10 firefighters were in operation on Thursday morning, with eight more aircraft scheduled to arrive in the day.
The main highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was reopened after it was closed on Wednesday as a flame broke into the air, causing drivers to abandon their cars and fled in horror.
Israeli emergency services Magen Adm Ambulance said Wednesday that at least 12 people were treated at hospitals — primarily through inhalation of smoke — a further 10 people were treated on site.
The timing of the wildfire coincides with Israel’s Independence Day. This is usually marked with large family dishes in parks and forests.
This time, Israeli fire and rescue teams are warning the public to be extremely careful as they leave the parks and forests and illuminate the barbecue.
In 2010, it burned on Mount Carmel in northern Israel for four days, claiming 44 lives and destroying approximately 12,000 acres of forest.
