Deadly Israeli fire rages on despite aid

04/12/2010| IslamWeb

Israel struggled to contain a huge and deadly forest fire that raged on for a third day on Saturday, despite the efforts of firefighting planes from half a dozen countries.

The worst inferno in Israel's history has killed 41 people, forced 17,000 to flee their homes and destroyed some 10,000 acres of woodland near the port of Haifa. By nightfall it had still not been brought under control.

Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said two people suspected of starting the blaze through negligence had been arrested. Israel Radio said the suspects were 16-year-old boys from a village bordering on the Carmel region woodlands where the fire was focused.

Regional police commander Roni Atiya said he believed the blaze had spread from a campfire that was not properly extinguished.

"It looks as though this is the result of negligence," said Atiya.

PHOTO CAPTION

A fire fighter tries to save a burning house after a forest fire hit the area of Ein Hod, near the northern city of Haifa December 4, 2010.

Agencies