not everywhere· Security· Updated 19:48

Flooding Closes Major Highway, Causes Power Outages Across Israel

Heavy rainfall and severe flash floods inundated southern Israel on Tuesday, leading to the closure of major highways and completely cutting off road access to the city of Eilat. The Israel Meteorological Service recorded 17 millimeters of rain in just three hours near Eilat, causing streams to overflow across the Negev and Arava deserts and the Dead Sea region. Police closed Routes 12, 13, 25, 40, 57, and Route 90, which was blocked from Lido Junction all the way to Eilat, leaving travel to Ramon Airport as the only permitted exception.

8 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 15:05

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What happened

01Heavy rainfall on Tuesday triggered severe flash floods across southern Israel, closing major highways and isolating the city of Eilat.
02Route 90 was closed from Lido Junction to Eilat, alongside closures on Routes 12, 13, 25, 40, and 57.
03All roads to Eilat were blocked by police, with the sole exception of access to Ramon Airport.
04Emergency services used a police helicopter to search for stranded hikers and vehicles trapped by the rising floodwaters.
05The Israel Police ordered the closure of all hiking sites and trails from Beersheba to Eilat due to life-threatening conditions.
06A storm-induced power outage in Rahat disrupted election day voting, disabling five polling stations for nearly an hour due to a lack of emergency lighting.
07Despite the severe weather, Bedouin communities in the south reported a significant surge in voter turnout on election day.

Emergency services, including the Southern District Police, Jordan Valley units, and MAGAV, deployed to manage traffic and ensure public safety. Rescue teams, supported by a police helicopter, conducted searches for stranded hikers and vehicles. Authorities ordered all hiking sites from Beersheba to Eilat closed, warning of life-threatening dangers in the Judean Desert and Dead Sea areas.

The severe weather coincided with Israel's election day. While central Israel also experienced localized rain and thunderstorms in Jerusalem, Beit Shemesh, Modiin, and Ramle, the storm caused power outages in Kedumim and the southern Bedouin city of Rahat. Rahat Mayor Talal Alqarnawi reported that a city-wide blackout lasting nearly an hour prevented voting at five polling stations due to a lack of emergency lighting, though Bedouin communities in the south still reported a significant surge in voter participation.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 8 newsrooms. Updated 20:06