The firefighters and volunteers that have been working all night long, seem exhausted, and admitting that they are still losing the battle against the huge blaze.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the death toll has risen to 41, all from a bus of Israeli prison guards that caught ablaze as it headed to rescue Palestinian inmates at a nearby prison threatened by the massive blaze. Rosenfeld said 16 people remained hospitalized, including the police chief of Haifa who was in critical condition. Three others were seriously wounded. ‪
An unprecedented convoy of international assistance poured in after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a rare cry for help.
‪Israeli officials said some 100 firefighters from Bulgaria have arrived as well as forces from Jordan and Greece. Fire extinguishing planes were on their way from Britain and Cyprus as well as aid from the United States, Russia, Egypt, Spain, Azerbaijan, Romania and Turkey -- which put aside recent tensions to lend a hand.
Over 13,000 people were evacuated from their homes. Police also evacuated a university, three prisons and a hospital.