Ramat Hasharon Mayor Avi Gruber said the explosion was caused by a work accident at an Elbit factory east of Highway 4.
A firefighter was killed and another was critically injured during unsuccessful attempts to save the life of a man who fell into the pit on Sunday.
"The tourist paradise turned into a hell on earth," recounted Eden Brook-Adams.
The fire appeared mainly confined to the top floor of the Ministry of Religious Endowments, although flames were seen shooting out of a second floor window as well.
Fires have broken out across seven different locations in Israel's north.
Some 20,000 people had to leave homes and hotels in Rhodes over the weekend.
One government official told Reuters 19,000 people had been moved from their homes and hotels.
"It is a pride and a privilege to help and contribute, from the knowledge and experience we have gained, to the Greek state," said Corporal Haim Bar-Gil of the Israel Police Air Unit.
AI is being used today in Israel to save lives by two of the country’s emergency services: the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority and Magen David Adom, which oversees emergency medical response.
6 teams of fire fighters are working to prevent the spread of the fire toward the houses.
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