MEGADIM, Israel — A bus burst into flames as it raced to an Israeli prison during a massive forest fire today, killing dozens of prison guards participating in the rescue mission, officials said. It was one of the deadliest accidents in the nation’s history.
Fire officials said the blaze, which torched some 1 600 acres (650 hectares), remained out of control after nightfall. A university, three prisons and a hospital were evacuated and at least one village was destroyed.
After nightfall, bodies of 25 victims from the bus had been identified, police said. Fire officials said about 40 people were killed. About two dozen people were still missing, Israel Radio reported.
“This is a disaster of unprecedented proportions,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
He said the government was using all means at its disposal to contain the blaze, and he appealed to Cyprus, Italy, Russia and Greece to provide backup. His office said Greece and Cyprus agreed to send firefighting helicopters.
After nightfall, he flew over the scene of the fire to inspect the damage. At the firefighters’ command post, he said the blaze was of “international proportions,” and the arrival of equipment from abroad on Friday could be decisive, but they could not work at night.
The fire broke out around midday and quickly spread, fanned by uncharacteristic hot and dry conditions at this time of year. Israel experienced an exceptionally hot summer and has had little rain during the normally wet autumn and winter season.
It destroyed one of Israel’s few large forests, made up of natural growth and planted areas, a favorite spot for camping, hiking and picnics. A nature reserve provided a refuge for dozens of species of wildlife. Forestry workers tried to evacuate animals from the inferno.
The forest recovered slowly from a fire in 1989, but experts said Thursday’s blaze was many times worse. (AP)