Israel: Extreme temperatures spark wildfires in Aderet

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Several wildfires broke out in Aderet on Wednesday, as temperatures soared amid an intense heatwave, burning down homes and forcing residents to be evacuated, amid a spate of wildfires throughout the country.

In footage filmed by a member of the Israeli emergency services, several bushfires can be seen on either side of the highway with trees set ablaze.

In a neighborhood close to Tel Aviv, five houses were set ablaze forcing emergency services to evacuate residents who were treated for smoke inhalation. In the Jerusalem region, a fire broke out in a parking lot, while several houses were also damaged in an illegal settlement in the West Bank.

Israeli firefighting Commissioner Teddy Simchi was forced to declare a state of high alert or "red torch" in which all firefighters, including volunteers, were placed in a state of readiness to tackle any further incidents.

Temperatures in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv hit 38° Celsius (100° Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, compared to about 28°C (82°F) on Monday. The heatwave is predicted to break later in the week with temperatures returning to their seasonal average.

Mandatory Credit: Israel Fire and Rescue Services

Video ID: 20190717-042

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