Thursday, December 2, 2010

A national tragedy happening

A terrible fire, the worst natural disaster in Israel's history, is raging on Mount Carmel, near Haifa, since around noon.

Perhaps 40 Prison Service personnel were burned to death in one bus. They were on the way to a prison to evacuate 500 prisoners.

Kibbutz Beit Oren burned.
Over 6,000 dumans (1500 acres) of woodland, including the beautiful forest area called Little Switzerland have already been destroyed.
Thousands of citizens in danger are being evacuated.

We have had no rain since last spring. The weather is hot and dry. The wind keeps changing direction today.

Helicopters and planes cannot fly to drop water or fire retardant during the night, in the dark.
We have asked Spain, Italy, Greece, Russia, and Cyprus to send firefighting aircraft and lots of the red chemical to help us.
Please add your prayers too.

You can watch the nonstop live coverage via Israel Broadcasting Authority TV at http://iba.org.il/media/ . Click on the blinking red title on the right to get Channel One.
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22 comments:

  1. I'm speechless, I fear the extent of this tragedy will be far greater than they're saying right now. All I can do is gape open-mouthed at the online coverage, and wait for the children to go to bed to turn on the news.

    We were just up there a few weeks ago.

    My god...

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  2. Just heard about it on the BBC, it's terrible!

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  3. Oh my gosh, Dina. I'm so sorry. That is very scary. I'll be hoping for rain for you all. We're finally getting some now that it's considered the rainier season.

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  4. What a tragic accident. I hope that help will soon come for this is so terrible. I hope that you are not involved nor one of your friends.
    I've just heard it on the news and I saw the images on TV.
    I am so sorry.

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  5. So sorry to learn about this Dina. I had not known it or seen it on television.

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  6. So terrible and sad! We will pray for you and your country.
    Hugs from Tania

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  7. That is terrible! I am praying for a quick end to this rampant disaster.

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  8. What a tragedy ! I have not heard this on our news here. Thank you for your blog - I have tried to access the iba link but unfortunately it will not allow me access.

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  9. Thank you all, for being with us.
    Rob and Mandy, planes from Spain are already on the way to help us.

    All Things French, sorry, there is a quota for the TV via Internet; it must be full right now.

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  10. From a country that is more than familiar with bushfires, we understand what you are going through and our thoughts and prayers are with you.

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  11. I am away from home at a conference and didn't hear the news right away.

    What an unbelievable tragedy. My own family are in Tel Aviv, Petach Tikvah and Jerusalem, but Israel is so small, Haifa is like a neighbour. What an unthinkable tragedy :(

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  12. And I was going to wish Happy Hanukkah. So sorry about this tragedy.

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  13. I have not had the news on at all today...this is horrible. I'm praying.

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  14. oh ! prayers and thoughts for you all.


    daily athens

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  15. Oh Dina,
    I'm so sorry, my heart and soul are with Israel at this time.

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  16. What a dreadful piece of news! Thoughts and prayers to the families of the victims! I hope more help will arrive soon!

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  17. A terrible tragedy, I hope you are getting all the help you need. The kind of weather you have now is the most dangerous for fires, let's hope even in some unprobable rain.

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  18. Thank you all for your good wishes.
    Shabbat shalom.

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  19. I just left you a note in the earlier post... Dina, you and your countrymen are in my thoughts. What a horror.

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  20. Dina, I've just heard about this terrible tragedy in the evening news. I'm very glad your are not involved at all. I'm praying for you all.

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