In Israel, a state of emergency has been declared following what are being described as the country’s largest ever fires.
A huge fire, ignited by raging winds and extreme temperatures, is ravaging the forested area around the city of Jerusalem. The risk, mentioned by the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, via a video released by his office, says the flames might spread to the suburbs or even the centre of the Holy City.
Today, Thursday 1 May, Israel’s Independence Day, all scheduled events were cancelled, and the country declared a state of emergency.
Shmulik Friedman, Jerusalem Fire Department commander, said, “We are facing perhaps the biggest fire that has ever broken out in the country. We have no idea what caused it. After the first fires, arsonists lit several more in other locations.”
About 7,000 people have been evacuated, the Israeli Media disclosed.
The Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency, involved in the investigation of the fire, said, there is no evidence that the fire was ignited deliberately.
A man in East Jerusalem was arrested by Police after being caught by witnesses trying to set fire to brushwood, hours after the first fires spread.
