Major flooding hit several Merkaz (Central) region towns on Monday, after an unusual deluge of rainfall buckled some roads and swallowed cars on others. Holon (10.8 km/ 6.7 miles from Tel Aviv) was hit particularly hard, as main streets HaMashbir, Independence St., Professor Schorr St., and Menachem Begin Boulevard were hit by flooding. Traffic near affected areas has been stalled as the streets remain closed until further notice. In one incident , a bus stop collapsed near the intersection of Hoffein and Fischman, leaving a 74 year-old man with minor injuries and leaving a massive crater. Other cities have been affected by the rainfall as well. In Bat Yam (12.4 km from Tel Aviv/ 7.7 miles) , several roads are flooded, including Anne Frank St., Keren Hayesod Street, Shenkar, Feld Street and Second Aliyah Street. All are blocked to traffic. In Yehud (14.7 km/ 9.1 miles from Tel Aviv), there is a large pool of rainwater blocking the entrance to the Yigal Alon school on Ben Tzvi. And in Jerusalem, four people were injured - two moderately , and two lightly - after a bus hydroplaned (slid) down Keren HaYesod street earlier Monday. One victim was caught underneath the bus and was rescued by Fire and Rescue crews. Two victims , including a 42 year-old woman and a 20 year-old woman , were taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital with head injuries in moderate condition. Floods are not uncommon during periods of heavy rain in Israel, and heavy precipitation in winter 2013 led to snowfall across several regions in Israel and to massive flooding in the Center and northern Negev.
