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Israeli authorities on Sunday closed the nation’s two longest highways as heavy flooding swept across the southern part of the country, exacerbating damage from recent wildfires that already scorched thousands of acres.
According to police, Highway 90—Israel’s longest road spanning around 480 kilometres (300 miles)—was closed at multiple points due to rising floodwaters. Affected areas include the vicinity of Samar, Menucha Junction, and Kibbutz Ketura.
Highway 90 serves as a crucial north-south transport route, stretching from Metula at the Lebanese border, skirting the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea, and running through the Arava Valley down to Eilat on the Red Sea coast.
The police also sealed off Eilat’s northern exit towards Be’er Ora and closed the city’s alternative outbound route via Highway 12, as reported by public broadcaster KAN.
Highway 40, Israel’s second-longest road at 302 kilometres (188 miles), was also shut to traffic between Mitzpe Ramon and the Tsihor Junction in both directions. The highway is a major corridor connecting the central city of Kfar Saba to the southern city of Beersheba.
In response to the extreme weather, police issued a series of road closure updates for southern Israel and deployed officers in Eilat to ensure public safety, urging motorists and pedestrians to comply with official instructions.
These floods follow closely on the heels of a major wildfire outbreak last Thursday, which burned through approximately 20,000 dunams (about 4,940 acres) of land between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The fires injured 21 people and prompted the evacuation of ten communities.
Driven by soaring temperatures and strong winds, the blaze was one of the largest the country has seen in years and took over 30 hours to contain. Authorities are currently investigating the cause, with local media, including KAN, suggesting the fires may have been sparked by careless park visitors rather than deliberate arson.
