In Israel, fires continue near Jerusalem but several roads have been reopened

Several roads closed due to fires reopened Thursday, May ^1st in Israel, where firefighters were still battling the blaze that has been raging since the day before in the vicinity of Jerusalem . Fires broke out Wednesday along the highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, forcing police to close several main roads and evacuate thousands of residents. According to the fire department, 163 teams remained mobilized, supported by 12 aircraft.

The Magen David Adom (MDA) rescue service announced that it treated 23 people on Wednesday, most of whom suffered burns or smoke inhalation. Among them were two pregnant women and two infants under the age of one, according to the MDA. Seventeen firefighters were injured, according to Kan public television.

Firefighters battled throughout the night to bring the blaze under control. "All roads have been reopened to traffic," police said in a statement Thursday morning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had declared a "national emergency," warning that the fires could spread to the city of Jerusalem. Soldiers were deployed as reinforcements Wednesday, and several Independence Day ceremonies were canceled.

The army announced Thursday that troops remained deployed in Jerusalem and other areas of central Israel. "Overnight, dozens of vehicles set up lines across the country to prevent the fire from spreading," the army said in a statement. Air forces "continue to participate in efforts to extinguish the fires," the army added, adding that it had sent about 50 fire trucks to the affected areas.

An Agence France-Presse reporter in central Israel saw wooded areas swept by fire near the main road between Latrun and Bet Shemesh on Wednesday, as helicopters attempted to extinguish the flames. The fires spread rapidly due to high temperatures and strong winds.

On Wednesday evening, the Foreign Ministry announced that firefighting aircraft were expected to arrive as reinforcements from France, Romania, Croatia, Italy and Spain.