Huge forest fire kills 40 in northern Israel: Officials - Times of India

JERUSALEM: At least 40 people, including prison guards and firemen were killed on Thursday in Israel as fire raged through a forest in its northern city of Haifa where a bus with 50 prisoners was trapped in the inferno after overturning.

"Huge brushfire was raging across the Carmel Mountains near Haifa on Thursday afternoon, causing dozens of casualties, among them prison guards and firemen," the Haaretz newspaper said in its report.

Police are evacuating thousands of people, including hundreds of prison inmates.

There were reports that a bus carrying 50 prisoners was trapped in the inferno after overturning. Scores of people have been injured, the ambulance service said.

"Large numbers of paramedics are dealing with injured in different locations," a spokesman for the ambulance service said. Dozens of fire crews are battling the fire amid heavy winds with the help of water dropped from planes, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Officials have told the newspaper that firefighters have been unable to control the flames. The cause of the blaze is unknown.

Israel is currently suffering a period of drought with no significant rain since the spring.