Thousands evacuated amid massive fire in Jerusalem

Huge wildfire near Jerusalem sent thick black clouds over the city on Sunday as hundreds of firefighters were struggling to subdue the fire, Israeli authorities said, reported Xinhua.

Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that the fire consumed an unknown number of houses and public buildings in at least four communities in the vicinity of Jerusalem.

No injuries have been reported.

At least 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the Jerusalem area, a spokesperson with the Jerusalem police said in a statement. At the Eitanim Hospital in the Jerusalem mountains, all of the patients and staff have been evacuated.

Air Force helicopters and soldiers with the army's Home Front Command were called to assist in the struggle to contain the fire.

The fire broke out amid a combination of hot, dry and windy weather.