Israel has declared a national emergency as fast-moving wildfires, fueled by soaring temperatures and strong winds, tear through wooded areas west of Jerusalem.
Authorities have turned to international partners, including Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus, and Italy, for urgent assistance to control the blaze, which has already prompted mass evacuations and closed key highways.
The fires, which reignited in an area affected by similar blazes just last week, intensified Friday evening, threatening multiple towns and infrastructure.
The main highway connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv has been shut down as a safety precaution, with residents in nearby communities ordered to evacuate immediately.
Defense Minister Israel Katz has authorized the deployment of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) units to aid overextended firefighting teams. “All available forces must be mobilized to protect lives and stop the spread of the fire,” Katz said, underscoring the seriousness of the crisis.
Firefighting helicopters were seen hovering over the hills between Latrun and Beit Shemesh, releasing water and flame retardants to slow the fire’s advance.
On the ground, emergency crews have been working around the clock, but dry vegetation and gusty winds continue to hamper containment efforts.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thick smoke darkened the skies. Drivers caught along the closed Jerusalem-Tel Aviv route abandoned their vehicles to flee on foot.
Israeli television broadcast dramatic footage of fire crews battling towering flames, some of which reached the outskirts of residential neighborhoods.
The fire has already affected at least five municipalities, forcing evacuations in several villages located around 30 kilometers west of the capital. Authorities have not yet released the total number of people displaced, but hundreds are believed to be affected.
Magen David Adom (MDA), Israel’s national emergency medical service, raised its alert level to the highest tier. “So far, 16 individuals have been treated for smoke inhalation,” MDA confirmed in a statement. The agency has set up emergency stations near evacuation zones to provide medical support and transportation.
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who oversees the national fire services, visited the fire zone and released a video urging calm and assuring citizens that international assistance was being coordinated.
“We are doing everything to bring in aerial support and evacuate residents who are still at risk,” Ben-Gvir said.
Bulgaria was among the first nations to respond to Israel’s request for aid, according to a report from Bulgarian News Agency BGNES.
Other Mediterranean countries with wildfire expertise, including Greece and Cyprus, are also expected to dispatch firefighting aircraft and personnel.
Environmental experts have long warned that the hilly forested regions surrounding Jerusalem are especially vulnerable to fires during Israel’s hot, dry summers.
While the exact cause of the blaze is still under investigation, officials fear that climate change and human activity are increasing the frequency and intensity of such disasters.
As of Saturday morning, efforts to control the fire were ongoing, with authorities urging residents to avoid non-essential travel and remain alert to evacuation advisories.