by Eugene Nicklaus S. Laqui
The Israeli government and its security forces were all hands on deck on Thursday in controlling the massive wildfire that had engulfed large areas near Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with the country’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring a National Emergency and seeking the aid of neighboring European nations.
‘Perhaps the largest fire ever’
Local and national authorities said the wildfire is now on its second day since the incident broke out in a dry and arid area on Wednesday.
They said that the fire had already reached some public infrastructures, including Route 1 being closed due to the fast-approaching wildfire.
Route 1 is a crucial road that connects Tel Aviv to Israel’s capital Jerusalem. Videos and photographs shared through social media showing people walking and leaving their cars to get to a safer ground.
Aside from public infrastructures, authorities have begun evacuating residential areas to avoid casualties from the inferno that engulfed the capital region of Israel. As many as 10 communities and hundreds of families were assisted by their local government units to avoid the fire.
Jerusalem District Commander Shmulik Friedman said that the strong winds in the capital city, reaching possibly 60 miles per hour in the coming days, could worsen the spread of fire that is now on multiple fronts.
“This is perhaps the largest fire in the country,” Friedman said in a brief interview.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Nepal to curb Mt. Everest ‘overcrowding’ with new regulations
Netanyahu declares National Emergency
The prime minister said that the government has deployed 163 local firefighters to swiftly curb the spread of the wildfire near Jerusalem, with 12 firefighting aircraft and helicopters sent to the areas affected.
Netanyahu also warned that the inferno could reach the metropolis and urged the public to take utmost precautionary measures and cooperate with their local leaders.
Authorities have yet to rule out a man-made incident that sparked the wildfire or if it started due to the dry environment in the region.
International help on their way
Israel has sought for more firefighter forces to immediately put out the spreading wildfire.
Italy and Cyprus have deployed their firefighting forces to help their Israeli counterparts in controlling the fire, especially in at least 11 hotspots.
The team is also expected to bolster the emergency and medical teams intended to give aid to individuals affected by the incident who were mostly suffering from smoke inhalation and minor burns.
No casualties were yet reported by the Israeli government.
READ NEXT: Survivors recount the horrors of Bergen Belsen
Liam McLaughlan 
Simon Wilkes