Israeli police and volunteer rescue units are mobilizing by ground and air after heavy rainfall caused widespread flooding and raised the risk of flash floods across southern Israel and the Dead Sea area on Election Day. The Jerusalem Post reports that people and vehicles have been trapped in flooded areas of the Negev and Arava regions. Multiple roads have been closed due to flooding, including all roads leading to and from Eilat.
In Beersheba, parking lots and shopping malls flooded, and residents reported that several traffic lights stopped functioning.
Power outages caused by the weather also disrupted voting in Meitar, causing a polling station to be temporarily closed.
Police closed Route 90 due to the severe weather. Yoni Stern, a resident of Neot HaKikar, where residents have been stranded in their vehicles due to closures, told Ynet, “Many Arava residents, myself included, are stuck on the road and cannot exercise our right to vote. We’re getting no response from the Central Elections Committee or the police. I’m stuck at Arava Junction and need to get to my polling station. They need to extend voting hours or reopen the road.”
Near Eilat, Ynet reported 17 millimeters of rainfall fell in just three hours on Tuesday. Other parts of the Arava also saw heavy rainfall, with Neot Smadar receiving nearly a quarter of its annual rainfall in one afternoon, the report added.
Several individuals have been reported missing amid the storm, although police and rescue teams have not specified how many people they are searching for. Thankfully, no deaths have been reported. Southern District police officers remain deployed throughout the region, conducting continuous assessments of the situation and working to prevent any loss of life. While travel remains permitted in some areas with advance planning, residents are advised to stay away from streambeds due to the risk of flash floods.
Despite the severe weather on Election Day, Israel recorded its highest voter turnout in more than 50 years, with nearly 78% of eligible voters casting their ballots. As votes continue to be counted, no clear winner has emerged, and the people of the Holy Land await the final results.
The Fellowship and our supporters pray for those trapped in their vehicles by the floods and for those who remain missing. May they be rescued and reunited with their families. We also pray for the recovery of the communities affected by these devastating floods.