Posted on 10/07/2004 1:29:18 PM PDT by yonif
(IsraelNN.com) An explosion occurred a short time ago in the Taba Hilton, on the Egyptian side of the border. According preliminary reports from Magen David Adom emergency medical service officials, the cause of the blast was a gas tank.
There are unconfirmed reports of dozens of injured. The IDF has already ordered helicopters into the air and MDA is mobilizing to treat the many wounded in the blast. Details to follow as they become available.
More Details:
From Haaretz:
22:22 Al-Jazeera: Most of those wounded in blast at Hilton Hotel in Taba are Israelis
22:21 Ceiling collapses following explosion at Hilton Hotel in Taba; cause of blast still unclear
22:10 Explosion at Hilton Hotel in Taba, near Israel-Egypt border; injuries reported
Ping.
Is it a resort area?
Is it a resort area?
Israeli Media, more reports:
Egypt not allowing Israeli rescue forces to get to the hotel, injured as a result evacuated to beach
Injured Israelis being evacuated from there to Eilat.
Many casualties reported.
What can I say... We gave them back Sinai... for what?
Blast at Hilton Hotel in Taba, close to Egypt-Israel border
By Revital Levy-Stein, Haaretz Correspondent
An explosion occurred at the Hilton Hotel in the Egyptian town of Taba in the Sinai Desert on Thursday evening, on the border with Israel.
There were reports of casualties in the blast. The Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera said that most of those wounded in the blast are Israelis.
A ceiling in the hotel collapsed following the blast, Army Radio said.
A large number of Border Policemen and Israel Defense Forces soldiers were amassed on Egyptian border, and Israel Air Force fighter planes were scrambled following the blast.
It is unclear what caused the explosion. Some reports said that the blast could have been caused by a gas cylinder.
Many Israelis have visited Egypt over the past month, during the period of Jewish holidays. Last month, the defense establishment cautioned Israelis against traveling to Sinai, following warnings of a potential terrorist attack.
Prayers for the wounded. Islam is truly a vile, evil death-cult.
Yesha News: eastern side of hotel up in flames.
dozens of casualties reported by Israeli Media. IDF responds that it does not know if this was a terror attack. Once again, Egyptian officials not allowing Israeli rescue forces into the hotel. IDF has massed forces around the border to aid the rescue of Israeli injured who are being brought to the border by Egyptians.
Haaretz: Israeli Witness: Taba hotel on fire; dozens of bodies lying on the floor (Reuters)
Egypt not allowing Israelis to get to their injured close to the border. Some "peace" treaty.
Yes, its right near Eilat. Very nice hotel, Red Sea is delightful place to snorkel, et al. Used to have a nude beach near there, doubt its still there.
I don't mean to lessen the dispicable occurrence, but after all it is "The Hilton". What has this family accomplished to further morality...need I say more.
Yoni any updates?
Blast at Egyptian Hotel Causes Casualties
11 minutes ago Middle East - AP
CAIRO, Egypt - A strong explosion damaged the Hilton hotel in Egypt's Taba resort, only yards from the Israeli border, on Thursday night, witnesses said. Israeli medics said they had been informed of "a large number of casualties."
"The whole front of the hotel has collapsed," witness Yigal Vakni told Israel's Army Radio. "There are dozens of people on the floor, lots of blood, it is very tense."
"I am standing outside of the hotel, the whole thing is burning and they have nothing to put it out with," he added. "There is nothing here."
On Sept. 9, the Israeli government urged citizens not to visit Egypt, citing a "concrete" terror threat to tourists in an area.
The blast could be heard strongly a mile from the hotel, said Selma Abu el-Dahab, who works at another Taba hotel. She said a worker from her hotel returned from the Hilton and told of the explosion before collapsing.
Taba is the main crossing between Israel and Egypt and the gateway for thousands of Israelis who travel to the hotels and resorts on the Red Sea. Thursday is the last day of the weeklong Jewish festival of Sukkot, when thousands of Israelis vacation in the Sinai.
Vakni said most of the people at the Hilton were Israeli.
"I was in the casino when it happened," he said. "There was a massive explosion and the left wall came down. People started to run around like crazy."
On Sept. 9, the Israeli government urged citizens not to visit Egypt, citing a "concrete" terror threat to tourists in an area.
The warning, issued by the counter-terrorism center in the Prime Minister's office, identified Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, where Taba is located, as the target of a potential attack.
"Recently a concrete possibility has emerged that terrorists will try to attack tourist centers in Egypt, especially the Sinai," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its Web site.
I've spent many a day at the Taba Hilton, this hits close to home.
IDF Radio: evidence suggests terror attack with suicide terrorist in carbomb blowing up next to gas canisters.
Eastern part of Hotel up in flames and has collapsed.
Israeli on phone says Egypt doing almost nothing to rescue people.
Egypt not allowing Israelis to leave, because passports are still in hotel that was hit.
Dozens of casualties.
Blast Rocks Taba Hotel On Egyption/Israeli Border
22:55 Oct 07, '04 / 22 Tishrei 5765
IDF helicopters are waiting at the Israeli border to evacuate the wounded and MDA has been mobilizing to treat the many wounded in the blast.
According to a Reshet Bet News Radio report, interviewing an Israeli present outside the Taba Hilton, the damage from the blast is significant, adding the situation is one of general panic and hysteria. Many Israelis are reported in the hotel area, and there is a power outage, further hampering rescue efforts.
Reports indicate that Israeli rescue personnel were not permitted to cross into Egypt at first to care for the dozens of wounded. Several lightly injured hotel guests made their way to the Israeli border by foot and were evacuated to Eilat's Yoseftal hospital.
Despite several warnings to refrain from vacationing in Egypt, Israelis have flocked to hotels in Sinai during the past month's holidays.
More info:
Explosion at Casino area.
Israel wants to help evacuate injured, Egypt refusing.
So far only 3 Israeli ambulances allowed to treat people.
Egypt having trouble at responding to the incident.
Injured evacuated to border and then allowed to be tranfered to Israeli hands, sent to Eilat hospital.
Mubarak has talked to Sharon on phone - Channel 1
At least a dozen Israelis injured already evacuated.
One must remember there was terror warning for Israelis traveling to Egypt a few weeks ago.
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