An Iranian missile with a heavy warhead carrying 450 kilograms of explosives fired toward southern Israel on Motzei Shabbos hit a Gerrer neighborhood in the city of Arad, injuring 68 people and causing massive damage to at least three apartment buildings, some of which are at risk of collapse.

According to MDA, 10 people were seriously injured, 11 were moderately injured, and the others were lightly injured.

MDA declared a mass casualty event, and a large number of rescue forces arrived at the scene to evacuate the injured and locate and rescue people trapped inside burning homes. Air Force and MDA helicopters were deployed to the city to assist in the evacuation.

“We evacuated children in serious condition,” the Southern District police commander said. “The impact was between the buildings. It’s a neis it didn’t hit a building directly. The damage was caused by the blast. There are hundreds of people here.”

Fire and Rescue Services stated: “This is a strike in the city center between residential buildings. Three buildings were damaged, and there is extensive destruction at the site. As a result of the impact, a fire broke out on the fourth floor of one of the buildings. Firefighters are operating at the scene.”

Arad Mayor Yair Maayan said that the missile itself struck an open area surrounded by four-story residential buildings, and that much of the damage to the buildings was caused by the blast wave rather than a direct hit. He added that between 100 and 150 families will need to be evacuated.

United Hatzalah reported that dozens of its paramedics are treating dozens of casualties at the scene, including those in critical, serious, and moderate condition. Dozens more volunteers from central Israel are on their way in Hatzalah and MDA ambulances to reinforce the Negev region in treating and evacuating the injured.

Over 50 people were injured earlier on Motzei Shabbos in a missile hit in Dimona, which is about 30 kilometers from Arad. Interceptors were launched at the missiles in both cities, but missed. The IDF has opened an investigation into the incidents.

.MDA emergency medic Yakir Talker said, “This is a very difficult scene. We arrived with large forces of ambulances, intensive care units, and MDA motorcycles. We saw many injured, in varying degrees of severity, as a result of a missile strike. We immediately began setting up a casualty collection point, triaged the wounded according to their condition, and provided life-saving medical treatment. There is extensive destruction and chaos at the scene. Teams are currently conducting thorough searches, and we will continue operating here as long as necessary.”

United Hatzalah reported: “United Hatzalah medical teams are treating over 30 casualties across several locations in the Arad area, some of them unconscious. United Hatzalah resilience teams are also providing assistance at the scene to those suffering from shock.”

Hatzalah medics from the Arad branch, Yossi Tauman and Simcha Ziternboim, reported: “We arrived at a scene of severe destruction involving several buildings, with dozens trapped and injured in varying conditions. We provided initial medical treatment and evacuated dozens of casualties to Soroka Medical Center. We are now returning to the difficult scene to continue evacuating the many injured.”

An initial update from the MDA spokesperson stated: “MDA medics and paramedics are providing medical treatment to a large number of casualties, including a 5-year-old girl in serious condition, 11 injured in moderate condition, and several others with light injuries. MDA teams are continuing to treat additional casualties at the scene. Large MDA forces, including helicopters, are on their way to the location.”

(YWN’s Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis ha’Shabbos in Israel)