New record: 148 rockets on north in one day

(VIDEO) More than 100 rockets fired at Kiryat Shmona area, nearby communities since Sunday morning. More than 140 rockets fired Sunday at Upper Galilee, Western Galilee. Sirens heard in Haifa, Krayot area Sunday afternoon; rockets land in Akko

Reuters | Published: 07.30.06, 18:03

VIDEO - At least four people were hurt Sunday afternoon by a Katyusha barrage in Kiryat Shmona. One of the injured, Haaretz correspondent Yuval Azulay, sustained moderate to serious wounds. Four other residents suffered from shock.

The police located the falling site of three rockets and continued to search the area.

Azulay was brought to the emergency room of the Ziv Hospital in Safed and his condition is currently moderate. He is suffering from pains in his chest cavity, shrapnel in his upper limbs, and shock injuries. He is expected to go through more x-rays in order to quantify the seriousness of the injury. Despite his wounds, he has been in full consciousness since the event, talking with his doctors. His condition is stable thus far.

More than 100 rockets were fired at the city and the surrounding communities since Sunday morning. Another barrage was fired at Safed, but the rockets landed in an open area and there were no reports of injuries or damage.

Overall, 148 rockets had been fired by Hizbullah on Israel's north Sunday, setting a "new record" since the fighting in Lebanon began.

Rockets fired from Lebanon house (Video: Foreign Ministry) (משרד החוץ)

Police commander of Kiryat Shmona, Commander Superintendent Faras Faraj, noted that all the officers of the station have dispersed throughout the city and the surrounding towns in cooperation with rescue forces and the army, to aid in covering the many arenas in which rockets have fallen. Following the rocket hits, six fires have broken out in Kiryat Shmona and the upper Galilee. Large teams of firefighters are working to put out a fire, among others, that broke out in the forest, endangering the lives of wild life in the area. Since the start of fighting in the north, firefighting teams in the upper Galilee have treated more that 550 fires.

Rockets hit Kiryat Shmona (Photo: Niv Calderon)

In previous barrages fired at Kiryat Shmona, four people were lightly injured by shrapnel and seven suffered from shock. In total, more than 100 rockets were fired at the Upper Galilee and Western Galilee.

Two vehicles were damaged in a barrage on Nahariya, and several empty buildings also suffered damages. Eight rockets hit Akko, five hit the Ma'a lot area and four hit the Rosh Pina and Hatzor area.

Rockets land in Haifa, sirens in Akko

The rocket attacks continued throughout Sunday afternoon, with rockets landing in Haifa, the Krayot area and Akko. Sirens were heard in the area shortly after 5:30 p.m.

Akko residents have been woken up three times Sunday morning by the sound of sirens. On the third time, a rocket barrage hit the town, causing severe damages. One of the rockets directly hit a house and another one landed near a kindergarten.

Yael Magal, who lives close to one of the rockets' landing site, said: "I rushed to the fortified room and the second I shut the door behind me I heard a loud blast. I knew the rocket landed nearby, but was alone at the apartment and afraid to come out. Only several minutes later I mustered the courage to go downstairs and see what has happened."

Hagai Einav contributed to the report