Firefighters have successfully brought under control a major blaze that engulfed an underground car park at a commercial development site in Petah Tikva, near Tel Aviv, following more than ten hours of intense firefighting efforts. The fire, which broke out in the subterranean parking area of the future BIG shopping complex spanning approximately 2,000 square metres, tested the resources and endurance of emergency services throughout the night and into the following day.
Rescue teams from multiple fire stations worked continuously to contain and extinguish the flames, which had spread across the substantial underground space. The scale of the incident, combined with the challenging conditions of fighting a fire in a below-ground location with limited ventilation and access points, made the operation particularly demanding for firefighters on the scene.
Authorities have now confirmed that all fire hotspots have been extinguished and the situation is under control. However, the cause of the fire remains unclear and will be the focus of an investigation by a specialist inquiry team. Investigators will seek to determine what sparked the blaze and whether any safety protocols were breached or equipment failures occurred that may have contributed to the incident.
Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.
