Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a stark warning as rapidly spreading wildfires edged dangerously close to Jerusalem. Declaring the escalating situation a “national emergency", Benjamin Netanyahu cautioned that “the western wind can push the fire easily towards the outskirts of [Jerusalem] – and even into the city itself."

In videos and photos widely shared on social media, thick plumes of smoke choked highways near the city as firefighters, bolstered by military deployments, scrambled to contain the blazes that have injured several people and forced widespread evacuations. The Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue agency reported that hundreds of civilians were at risk from what they described as the worst fires to hit the region in years.

The alert level has been raised to its highest point and authorities have shut down the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway and evacuated residents along its path as new fires ignited in an area already ravaged by blazes a week prior.

Student Yosef Aaron told AFP, “A lot of police arrived, a lot of firefighters, but it didn’t really help. The fire had already completely taken over the whole area here."

Fire chief Eyal Caspi said that weather conditions imposed limitations on aerial firefighting efforts, stating, “Our aircraft can’t do anything right now due to the weather conditions… Our goal is to save lives," while acknowledging the potential for this to be “the largest fire in Israel in a decade."

Israel has reached out to neighboring countries, including Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, and Bulgaria, for assistance. Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announcing the imminent arrival of aircraft from Italy and Croatia to join the firefighting efforts.

source: News189