Firefighters in Israel are continuing their efforts to control fast-spreading wildfires in the Jerusalem Hills, which remain out of control more than 24 hours after erupting on April 30.

The fires have prompted widespread evacuations, injuries, road closures, and an urgent international appeal for assistance, Caliber.Az reports, citing Israeli media.

The fires, fueled by high temperatures and strong winds, have led to what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described as a “national emergency.”

In a televised statement, Netanyahu warned that the blazes could reach the outskirts of Jerusalem or even penetrate into the city itself, stressing that the immediate priority is the defence of the capital.

“We need to bring as many fire engines as possible and create firebreaks well beyond the current fire lines,” he said. “The western wind can push the fire easily towards the outskirts of [Jerusalem]. We are now in a national emergency, not just a local one.”

As thick smoke blanketed key roads, including the main Highway 1 connecting Jerusalem to Tel Aviv, chaos ensued. Roughly 100 vehicles were abandoned on the route, forcing a temporary closure. Police later reopened the highway after removing the stranded vehicles.

Firefighting teams continued working through the night into the morning of May 1 in an effort to contain the flames, but authorities admitted the situation remains critical.

The Magen David Adom (MDA) emergency medical service reported at least 23 people injured, including 13 hospitalised, mostly for smoke inhalation and burns. Among the injured were two pregnant women and two infants under one year old. MDA said its alert level has been raised to the highest possible tier, and ambulance teams are on standby near evacuated communities.

Several neighbourhoods and at least five communities were evacuated, and military units were deployed to assist in managing the crisis.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who also oversees Israel’s fire services, visited the area and stated that additional resources were being deployed to support emergency crews and help evacuate civilians.

In his remarks, Ben Gvir also hinted that arson may be involved, revealing that police had arrested a resident of East Jerusalem caught allegedly attempting to ignite a field in the southern part of the city. However, there has been no official confirmation linking this arrest to the broader outbreak of fires.

Israel's Foreign Ministry has appealed to several countries, including Azerbaijan, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, and Bulgaria, for urgent assistance. Netanyahu’s office confirmed that three firefighting aircraft from Italy and Croatia are expected to arrive shortly.

The Jerusalem Hills region, especially prone to wildfires during the dry season, had already experienced similar blazes just a week earlier. Wednesday’s outbreak marks one of the worst wildfire incidents in Israel in recent years, with authorities bracing for further flare-ups as weather conditions remain volatile.

By Tamilla Hasanova

Source: caliber.az