A dark plume of smoke swirling over the highway near Jerusalem Al-Kud on Wednesday caused several injuries, urging Israeli military minister Katz to declare the situation a “national emergency.”
Israel’s Magen David Adom Rescue Agency reported hundreds of civilians were at risk from the worst brush fires in years as Katz ordered them to deploy to assist firefighters.
The MDA said it provided treatment to about 22 people, 12 people were taken to hospital, with the majority suffering from inhaling smoke. He added that alert levels have been raised to the highest level.
“We are facing a national emergency and all available troops must be mobilized to save lives and control the fire,” Katz said in a statement from his ministry.
Police closed Jerusalemtel’s main Aviv Highway and evacuated residents along the route after a brushfire broke out in an area that was destroyed by flames a week ago.