The Israeli government has taken a bold step to keep the country safe following the declaration of a state of emergency as an inferno, believed to be the largest in the nation, hits Jerusalem.
Reports filed momentarily revealed that despite massive efforts from fire brigades, military personnel, and emergency services, the blaze rages on, causing catastrophic damage to both lives and property in Jerusalem.
The inferno was said to have ignited on Tuesday morning beside Mesilat Zion, west of Jerusalem, spreading rapidly to other parts due to strong winds, with some reaching speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour.
Speaking about the situation, Shmulik Friedman, Commander of the Fire and Rescue Serviceโs Jerusalem District, labeled it as dire.
“We are amidst a very large wildfire, maybe the largest there has ever been in this country.”
โRegarding our activity, it will continue for a very long time. We are far from having control.โ
The smoke emanating from the blaze was reported to have overwhelmed major highways in the city, causing road users to abandon their vehicles.
As the condition deteriorates due to the interference of winds, authorities have put forward a warning for a potential worst-case scenario as winds continue to hinder progress.
โOur aircraft canโt operate right now due to the weather conditions… Our goal is to save lives,โ said Fire Chief Eyal Caspi.
While emergency teams continue to battle the fire, the government has received several criticisms for its alleged lack of preparation in the face of such large-scale fires. Dov Ganem, chairman of the Israel Fire and Rescue Association, said he had been warning for the past 18 years about the countryโs inadequate firefighting readiness.”
Israel’s emergency rescue service Magen David Adom, reported that no fewer than 23 persons have been treated for injuries, with hundreds more at risk from the blaze.
As at the time of reports, the cause of the fires remains unknown, and investigations are ongoing. Police have equally made three arrests associated with the inferno even though detailed investigation into their alleged involvement will be carried out subsequently when the fire in under control.
Emphasizing the precarious situation, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while addressung the nation expressed as follows:
โWe are now in a national emergency, not just a local one.”
โThis wave of fires is a threat to human life, to communities โ and to Jerusalem. This is not just a fire in the field, it is a national danger.โ
Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed the urgency, calling for the mobilisation of all available resources.
โWe are facing a national emergency, and all available forces must be mobilised to save lives and bring the fires under control,โ he said.
Requesting for aerial aid in fighting off the inferno, the Foreign Minister Gideon Saโar has contacted several international counterparts, including officials in the UK, France, and Spain.
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