Record-breaking heat wave hits Israel, sparks fires

Advertisement

JERUSALEM (JTA) — A record-breaking heat wave has sparked fires throughout Israel and sent hundreds for treatment.

More than 370 people were treated on Saturday and Sunday for heat-related conditions, including fainting, heat exhaustion and heatstroke, the Times of Israel reported, citing Magen David Adom.

Dozens of brush fires broke out, including several in the Jerusalem area. Residents of Beit Shemesh, Kfar Yona and the West Bank settlement of Negohot were temporarily evacuated from their homes as firefighters attempted to quell a large blaze.

There also were fires in central Israel, including in Petach Tikvah and Netanya, and in the North, in Haifa.

Eilat in the South hit 115 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking a May 1980 record of 113.4. In Jerusalem, temperatures reached 98.6 during the day and were expected to drop to only 82.4 at night. Tel Aviv was at 102 during the day and was to fall to 77 at night.

The heat wave, which will be accompanied by high dusty winds on Monday, will break on Tuesday, according to meteorologists.

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement