Wildfires have erupted in central Israel, forcing authorities to close major highways and prompting the Israeli government to ask for international aid.

A video shared to social media showed the fire raging along Highway 1, which connects Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Residents no choice but to abandon their cars and run for their lives.

Locals were evacuated from several communities in the Jerusalem Hills, including towns of Neve Shalom, Mevo Horon and Eshtaol.

The Israeli government said it has asked Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy and Bulgaria for help in battling the fires, with assistance expected to arrive Thursday, local time.

The Israeli media reported that two pregnant women and two infants were among the 13 people rushed to the hospital for treatment for smoke inhalation and burns.

The Chief of the Israel Defence Forces, Eyal Zamir said search and rescue teams had joined the police and firefighters in the area to help battle the fires and evacuate residents.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog wrote on X expressing “full support for the firefighters”.

“I thank the countries stepping up to assist Israel at this critical time and send strength to those evacuated from their homes,” he wrote.

Israeli media reported that the domestic spy agency, Shin Bet is involved in investigating the cause of the fires, with fear of arsonists being involved.

Police revealed they had arrested a man in his fifties from a Palestinian neighbourhood in East Jerusalem on suspicion of trying to start another fire in an open field south of the city.

Photo: Israel Border Police in 2021 Israel Wildfires by Israel Police found HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.