Heavy heat, train tracks expands, foresters 'fight flames with tears'

Train workers monitor tracks as some of them expand in the extreme heat wave.

A firefighting aircraft flies over a forest near kibbutz Harel which was damaged by wildfires during a record heatwave, in Israel May 24, 2019. (photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
A firefighting aircraft flies over a forest near kibbutz Harel which was damaged by wildfires during a record heatwave, in Israel May 24, 2019.
(photo credit: RONEN ZVULUN / REUTERS)
Heavy heat caused train tacks to expand and disruptions in train arrival and departure times,  Israel Railways wrote on Facebook on Friday. 
 
Train workers are monitoring the tracks to ensure safety, the post said. 
Israel's rail system has been suffering frequent delays, strikes and shutdowns in recent months. 
 
Regional manager at the Jewish National Fund (JNF) Gilaad Mstai said that his teams of foresters "are extinguishing the forests [fires] with their tears," the JNF wrote on social media on Friday. 
Ten thousand dunams (2471 acres) of Ben Shemen Forest had been burnt so far, the post stated. 
 
On Thursday, numerous fires caused damage to several communities across central Israel including  the destruction of Moshav Mevo Modi'in.