Train service was disrupted in northern Israel for several hours Monday afternoon after a large fire broke out in the Haifa coast area, near Atlit. Service south and north of the fire on the railroad's main line, between Herzliya and Haifa, was out of service while 17 firefighting crews worked to put out the flames, which reached to within 100 meters of homes in Atlit and Kibbutz Hahotrim. Travelers were transported by bus between the points where the railroad was closed.

The flames were put out later Monday. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Trains resumed operation Monday evening.