Posted to Fires on

40 Dead As Fire Rages Through Israels North

INN

Photo: HNN.co.il

The ZAKA rescue organization says at least 40 people died in the fire on the Carmel Mountain Thursday.

At least ten people – passengers on an overturned bus after it was caught in the fire, and possibly some of their rescuers – were killed after the fire broke out this morning in an illegal garbage dump in the Carmel Mountains. Forty other passengers were initially reported to be injured.

It is feared that another ten people are dead in other places affected by the fire.

Ongoing rescue and fire-fighting efforts are said to be nearly impossible given the physical conditions of the mountains, smoke, dry conditions and lack of accessibility. With darkness approaching, fears are great that the fire will rage out of control for many hours.

One witness said that two light planes were sent to the area to help out in the fire-fighting efforts, and “they simply disappeared.”

The trapped bus is said to have departed from the Damon Prison, apparently as part of the attempt to evacuate the prison in the face of the fast-spreading fire. The residents of nearby Kibbutz Beit Oren and the Druze village of Usefiya were also evacuated, as were the students of Haifa University, which is somewhat further away. Several homes in Usefiya have been burnt to the ground.

Dozens of ambulances were alerted to Kibbutz Beit Oren, which is now in danger of being overtaken by the fire.

The Damon jail mostly holds Arabs who were caught illegally entering Israel from the Palestinian Authority.

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5 Comments

  • soli

    everyone let us read Tehillim ,the situation there is not yet under control.The Israeli government is calling on other countries to come help

  • soli

    everyone let us read Tehillim ,the situation there is not yet under control.The Israeli government is calling on other countries to come help

  • cynths

    So sorry about the fire in Israel. 40 souls lost. We here in New Zealand are still coping with our mine disaster 2 weeks ago today and have been overflowed with support world wide. I hope the world comes together and help the families of your loved ones lost.
    Aroha cynth