Approximately 70,000 Israelis are estimated go hiking in the coming days, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA) said on Friday, issuing several warnings in light of recent stormy weather.
The INPA warned that water levels in streams and rivers across the country have risen following recent rainfall, and several parks are closed due to flood risk, including the Hermon-Banias Nature Reserve, Nachal Ayon Nature Reserve, the Caesarea National Park, the Tel Afek National Park, and the Ashkelon National Park.
The INPA also noted a risk of flash flooding in the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea area; therefore, it is forbidden to enter flowing streams on foot or in a vehicle until the water level has dropped. It is also forbidden to draw near to the edge of a stream during a flood, as the streambank could collapse.
Finally, the authority recommended checking the INPA information center before embarking on a hiking trip, either by going to their website or calling the *3639 hotline.
Severe weather takes two lives, floods the country
A winter storm that swept across Israel on Monday and Tuesday killed a woman and caused widespread flooding and property damage. Additionally, a young man was swept away in the flooding at Nahal Modi'in, near the city of Modi'in Illit, and drowned. His body was found on Friday, according to Israeli media.
A woman in her 50s was critically injured when a heavy object struck her as floodwaters rose in her home in the Shuafat refugee camp in eastern Jerusalem. Magen David Adom personnel found her unconscious at a nearby security checkpoint and rushed her to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead.
Firefighters in the Binyamin region were called on Tuesday afternoon to search for a boy who went missing after being swept away in the Nahal Modi'in stream. After three days of searching, the body was found, and the boy was identified as 17-year-old Moshe Ludmir from Beitar Illit, according to N12.
Heavy rain also caused flooding at the Hatzor Air Base in central Israel, the IDF said.
Rainfall totals varied widely, with some of the heaviest precipitation recorded in northern and central areas. Majdal Shams, in the northern Golan Heights, reported about 60 millimeters of rain, while Jerusalem received 41 millimeters. Haifa recorded 27 millimeters and Tel Aviv 22 millimeters.
Pesach Benson and Yanir Yagna contributed to this report.