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| Israel fires: Hundreds evacuated as flames reach Haifa | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Hundreds of people have been evacuated in Israel and West Bank settlements as firefighters battle a three-day outbreak of forest fires. | Hundreds of people have been evacuated in Israel and West Bank settlements as firefighters battle a three-day outbreak of forest fires. |
| Hot, dry wind is fanning the flames, which have reached the city of Haifa and forced the temporary closure of a major Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. | Hot, dry wind is fanning the flames, which have reached the city of Haifa and forced the temporary closure of a major Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway. |
| A minister said half of the fires were "apparently arson". | |
| However, police said they had not determined whether any fires were started deliberately. | However, police said they had not determined whether any fires were started deliberately. |
| Four people have been arrested in connection with a fire in the Jerusalem area. | Four people have been arrested in connection with a fire in the Jerusalem area. |
| Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the Palestinian men were expected to appear in court later on Thursday, on suspicion of starting a bonfire negligently, Reuters reported. | Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the Palestinian men were expected to appear in court later on Thursday, on suspicion of starting a bonfire negligently, Reuters reported. |
| 'People are stuck' | 'People are stuck' |
| No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, though the national ambulance service said 35 people had been treated for smoke inhalation. | No deaths or serious injuries have been reported, though the national ambulance service said 35 people had been treated for smoke inhalation. |
| In the northern city of Haifa, which is Israel's third largest, some residents were reported to be trapped by the advancing flames. | In the northern city of Haifa, which is Israel's third largest, some residents were reported to be trapped by the advancing flames. |
| "We evacuated three neighbourhoods and there are people who are stuck," fire department spokesman Kayed Daher told AFP. | "We evacuated three neighbourhoods and there are people who are stuck," fire department spokesman Kayed Daher told AFP. |
| "The fire is still burning and the flames are approaching a gas station." | "The fire is still burning and the flames are approaching a gas station." |
| Flames 10m (30ft) high were threatening several multi-storey tower blocks in one Haifa suburb, an AFP photographer at the scene reported. | Flames 10m (30ft) high were threatening several multi-storey tower blocks in one Haifa suburb, an AFP photographer at the scene reported. |
| Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav told Channel 2 TV there were indications that one of the fires started when "someone tossed a cigarette in an area full of oil and flammable fluids" in an industrial zone. | Haifa Mayor Yonah Yahav told Channel 2 TV there were indications that one of the fires started when "someone tossed a cigarette in an area full of oil and flammable fluids" in an industrial zone. |
| Further south, Highway 443 - which links Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, crossing through the West Bank - was closed to morning traffic on Thursday as another blaze reached the city of Modi'in. | |
| Homes and cars were damaged, and 300 students were evacuated from a school, in nearby Talmon settlement, police said. | Homes and cars were damaged, and 300 students were evacuated from a school, in nearby Talmon settlement, police said. |
| Several countries - including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece - have sent help and equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes. | Several countries - including Cyprus, Russia, Italy, Croatia and Greece - have sent help and equipment, including aircraft, to help tackle the blazes. |
| "Almost 50% of the fires are apparently arson," Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio. | "Almost 50% of the fires are apparently arson," Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan told Army Radio. |
| Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of a far-right party, said on Twitter in Hebrew: "Only those to whom the country does not belong are capable of burning it." | Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of a far-right party, said on Twitter in Hebrew: "Only those to whom the country does not belong are capable of burning it." |
| Meanwhile, the Arabic-language hashtag #Israel_on_fire began trending, with the majority of tweets expressing pleasure over the outbreak. | Meanwhile, the Arabic-language hashtag #Israel_on_fire began trending, with the majority of tweets expressing pleasure over the outbreak. |
| In 2010, 42 people died in a fire on Mount Carmel, just south of Haifa. | In 2010, 42 people died in a fire on Mount Carmel, just south of Haifa. |
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