Israel Police announced the closure of multiple highways across southern Israel on Thursday following exceptional rainfall that triggered flash floods throughout the Negev and Arava regions.
Police said officers from the Southern District, the Bik'a station in the Judea and Samaria District, national traffic police and Border Police units are deployed in an extensive operational formation along traffic routes in the south, the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea area "following the flash floods and flooding, with the aim of protecting public safety and security and preventing risk to human life."
Alongside the road closures and traffic diversion, police are responding to incidents resulting from the severe weather, including searches for hikers and vehicles in open areas, with the assistance of a police helicopter.
The following highways are closed to all vehicle traffic:
Route 90: from HaLido Junction to Eilat.
In the Dead Sea area, the Hotels Circle, Masada Junction, Nahal Arugot and David Circle are also closed.
Route 57: from Adam Junction to Bik'ot Junction, in both directions.
Route 25: from Tzafit Junction to HaArava Junction, and from Oron Junction toward Route 206 (Ma'ale Akrabim).
Route 40: from Mitzpe Ramon to Tzihor Junction.
Route 13: from Menucha Junction to Tzihor Junction.
Route 12: from Eilat to Neot Smadar Junction.
The closures mean that at this stage, all roads leading to and from the city of Eilat are blocked to vehicle traffic.
However, exit from Eilat will be permitted for the sole purpose of reaching Ramon Airport.
