Israel reopens key roads as firefighters battle blaze

Israeli firefighting teams battled wildfires adjacent Jerusalem for a 2nd time connected Thursday, with constabulary reporting the reopening of respective large roads that had been closed.

The fires broke retired connected Wednesday on the main Jerusalem–Tel Aviv highway, prompting constabulary to unopen the roads and evacuate thousands of residents from adjacent communities.

Israel's firefighting work said 163 crushed crews and 12 craft were moving to incorporate the flames.

Rescue bureau Magen David Adom said it treated 23 radical connected Wednesday, mostly for fume inhalation and burns.

Among them were 2 large women and 2 babies nether a twelvemonth old, it added.

Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to nationalist broadcaster Kan.

Crews worked done the night, allowing the reopening of main roads, including the Jerusalem–Tel Aviv route, constabulary said.

"All routes person been reopened to traffic," said a constabulary statement.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a "national emergency", informing the fires could dispersed into Jerusalem.

Troops were deployed to enactment efforts and respective Independence Day events were cancelled.

The Israeli subject said its unit were helping successful Jerusalem and different cardinal districts.

"Overnight dozens of engineering vehicles started operating passim the state to signifier lines to forestall the occurrence from spreading into different trees," said a subject statement.

"The IAF (air force) continues assisting successful the effort to extinguish the fires," it said, adding that astir 50 firetrucks were dispatched wherever the blaze had spread.

An AFP writer astatine the country connected Wednesday said fires had swept done wooded areas adjacent the main roadworthy betwixt Latrun and Bet Shemesh.

Helicopters were seen trying to extinguish the flames.

Fanned by precocious temperatures and beardown winds, the fires dispersed rapidly done wooded areas, prompting evacuations from astatine slightest 5 communities, constabulary said.

Late Wednesday, the overseas ministry said firefighting craft were expected to get from Croatia, France, Italy, Romania and Spain to articulation the operation.

ha-jd/dv