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.
What do you think.....will the Israelis go in and seize the hotel and rescue their injured people?
My wife is on the phone now with my daughter in Eilat. She's kins of shook up. We always think of Eilat as "more safe."
What is she seeing?
Sounds like Egypt is being oooooh so helpful in rescuing and rendering assistance to the injured Israelis.
IDF has ammased forces. Eastern part of hotel collapsed. Western part almost going to do so as well.
IAF and Homefront Command on high alert to aid in rescuing forces, but no Egyptian approval.
Radio show host from Eilat: 22 injured have arrived in Eilat. Egyptians doing piss poor job aiding the injured. Reports of injured still laying on the ground at the hotel.
They need to seize the hotel...
This seems like the explosion in the hotel in Kenya a while back (IIRC).
IDF Radio: Hospital in Eilat can't keep up the demand.
Sounds to me like the hotel is gone..
Haaretz:
23:08 Some people trapped under rubble after parts of Taba Hilton hotel collapse
23:07 Witness: The blast in Taba hotel appears to be a car bomb, parts of the vehicle are scattered in a 200 meter radius
also from Haaretz:
Last Update: 07/10/2004 23:12
Blast at Hilton Hotel in Taba, close to Egypt-Israel border
By Amos Harel, Yoav Stern and Revital Levy-Stein, Haaretz Correspondents, and Haartetz Service
An explosion ripped at the Hilton Hotel in the Egyptian town of Taba in the Sinai Desert on Thursday evening, close to the border with Israel, causing many injuries.
Israeli security sources said there was growing conviction that the explosion was caused by a terrorist attack, although the actual cause was not immediately clear.
The explosion, which took place in the lobby of the hotel at around 10 P.M., caused the ceiling of the lobby to collapse.
A fire then broke out at the hotel, and hotel guests on the upper floors were evacuated via the emergency exits. The western part of the hotel later caved in as well.
The Qatar-based satellite channel Al-Jazeera said that most of those wounded in the blast were Israelis.
An Israeli witness at the Hilton said that the hotel was on fire, and that dozens of bodies were lying on the floor.
"I heard a huge explosion. The wall near me collapsed and people began to run. There were many casualties... The explosion was outside. When we went out we saw the shops and the internal wall of the hotel had collapsed," the witness, called Yigal, told Army Radio.
"Some people it was a gas canister explosion and others said it was a terrorist attack. There are a lot of people [lying on the ground]. There is a lot of blood, a lot of screaming," he added.
"The whole front of the hotel has collapsed," he said. "I am standing outside of the hotel, the whole thing is burning and they have nothing to put it out with. There is nothing here."
Within 45 minutes of the blast, seven of the wounded had been taken to Yoseftal Hospital in Eilat, Channel 10 television said. Five of the wounded were in light condition and two had sustained moderate injuries.
In the wake of the explosion, Israel amassed a large number of rescue personnel on the Egyptian border, and Israel Air Force planes were scrambled.
Egypt closed the border with Israel, preventing Israeli rescue personnel from crossing, but re-opened it a short time later, allowing Israeli rescue workers to cross.
Israeli medics said they had been informed of "a large number of casualties."
The blast could be heard strongly about two kilometers 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.
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.
Of course, its the Jews being hit here.
23:11 Firefighters from Eilat arrive at the scene of blast in Taba; are battling flames at the Hilton hotel
23:08 Some people trapped under rubble after parts of Taba Hilton hotel collapse
23:07 Witness: The blast in Taba hotel appears to be a car bomb, parts of the vehicle are scattered in a 200 meter radius
23:05 Western annex of Hilton hotel in Taba collapses as a result of the blast
23:02 Witnesses: Explosion at Hilton hotel in Taba was in the hotel`s casino
22:59 First ambulances arrive at the scene of Taba blast; Israeli paramedics say are treating dozens of wounded people
22:58 Israeli security sources: There is growing conviction that the blast in Taba is a suicide attack
22:56 Witnesses: Egyptian rescue workers experiece difficulty in treating wounded
22:52 Egyptians allow Israeli rescue workers to cross border
22:47 Five lightly, two moderately wounded, are rushed to Yoseftal Medical Center in Eilat after blast in Taba
22:46 Israel-Egypt border closed; Egyptian officiols aren`t letting Israeli rescue worlers cross border
22:41 Israeli Witness: Taba hotel on fire; dozens of bodies lying on the floor
22:36 7 lightly wounded in Taba blast; are rushed to Yoseftal Medical Center in Eilat
22:33 Paramedics rush 10 wounded in explosion at Taba Hilton hotel to Eilat hospital
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
So Islamofascists are using "gas tanks" now?
Prayers for the well-being of all involved who fight the global terrorists.
Arab news is saying this is a Hamas attack (not confirmed).
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/news.php3?id=69980
Western part of Hotel reported to have collapsed.
Eilat Fire Dept.: number of our units allowed to come battle fire at the Egyptian hotel and rescue trapped people. (IDF radio)
Cat your correct..
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