Israel burns: 50,000 flee the city of Haifa after bushfires - feared to have been started by arsonists - ravage the Jewish state

Raging bushfires forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of people from parts of Israel's third city Haifa on Thursday as firefighters struggled to control blazes across the country. Some residents were trapped in their homes as the army called up reservists to help cope with a third day of fires which authorities speculated could have been started deliberately. Haifa municipality spokeswoman Or Doron said 50,000 of the city's roughly 250,000 residents had been evacuated.