The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, warned on Wednesday, April 30 that forest fires that quickly extended near Jerusalem could reach the city.
Israeli aid is on a maximum alert after the departure of several devastating fires, mainly west of Jerusalem, the most important in years, which have been several light wounds.
“The west wind can easily push the fire to the districts on the outskirts of (Jerusalem), or even in the city itself,” said Benjamin Netanyahu, in a video broadcast by his office.
“Currently, the priority is to defend Jerusalem,” he added, informing a “national emergency situation.”
“The greatest fire in Israel for a decade”
“We have probably faced the largest fire in Israel in a decade,” said Eyal Caspi, the Fire Commander, during a press point.
Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered the army to display to control these fires that spread rapidly due to strong winds and high temperatures.
The emergency services of Magen David Adom said they had attended at least 23 slightly injured, and added that the alert threshold was observed at its maximum level.
Israeli police closed the road on Wednesday between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and evacuated 5 municipalities along this road axis, in an area already devastated by the fire a week ago.
“It is really sad because we knew the weather, we knew so that it would happen and, nevertheless, we have the impression that (the authorities) were not sufficiently prepared with the large planes that can leave large amounts of water,” Yuval Ahroni told AFP, a 40 -year -old resident, from the surroundings of the city of Modiin, next to a hill.
Evacuations and blocked people
The flames devour forest areas near the road that connect Latrun to Bet Shemesh, where several helicopters are trying to extinguish them, said an AFP journalist. This journalist saw soldiers who helped on Wednesday afternoon the evacuation of people trapped on roads between thick clouds of black smoke. Many drivers have abandoned their vehicle in the middle of the road and fled.
Ambulance teams have been placed near the municipalities near the fires and are ready to intervene, said a rescuer of MDA, Saar Shai. He added that a motorcyclist unit had been sent to help blocked people in traffic traffic jams.
“Ambulance teams, intensive care units and immediate intervention vehicles provide medical support for fire fighting near Neve Shalom and ESHTAOL,” the forest sectors to the west of Jerusalem, had previously declared emergency services.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who was there, emphasized that additional efforts were necessary to help trapped residents.
European support
The French president, Emmanuel Macron, expressed the solidarity of France with Israel and proposed “material support” to the country against devastating fires.
Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday the imminent arrival of three Italian aircraft and Croatia. The Office of its Foreign Minister Gideon Saar also announced the arrival of two Spanish planes, one from France, as well as the support of Romania.
The Jerusalem City Council has canceled all the events scheduled for Wednesday night in the city for National Independence Day.
In a press release, Itamar Ben Gvir suggested that the fires could be of criminal origin. Police said they had arrested a resident of East Jerusalem who had surprised “trying to set fire to a field in the south of the city”, but no official statement has established a direct link with fires.
“The police will continue their efforts to stop all the people involved in these incendiary terrorist acts,” added the minister.
Source: BFM TV
