Story By: Jonathan Macias, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Central European News
This young couple has died after becoming trapped in a flooded lift and the case is being investigated for the slow response of the emergency services.
The couple died in a building in the neighbourhood of Hatikva in the Israeli capital of Tel Aviv on the western coast of Israel during the recent floods in the city.
According to local media, Dean Shoshani and Stav Harari, both 25 years old, died when they became trapped in a lift at the parking level of the building which filled with water.
Reports said that emergency services had to use scuba gear to rescue the victims, sawing through the roof of the lift to reach the pair,
Harari was reportedly transferred to the Sourasky Medical Center in Tel Aviv in critical condition and suffering from hypothermia. Doctors could not revive her while Shoshani was reportedly reanimated at the scene and later taken to the Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer where he died because of his injuries.
Some local residents and the building tenant claimed the emergency services took too long to answer their calls and they also complained about the infrastructure in the area.
One of the building’s tenants whose name has not been reported told local media: “I called the police, at this point I already figured there were people trapped in the elevator and I got an answer only on the third try.”
Alfred Jadid the owner of the building also said to local media: “I got a call about 20 minutes after the two got trapped. When I arrived, the water had already reached the ceiling. I started going crazy, we tried opening the elevator doors, but to no avail.”
Jadid also said: “Police only arrived about an hour later, but how would that help? The fire brigade arrived there after an hour and a half. All these floods are caused by the drainage system’s failure. We have floods around here all the time. All the time.”
According to the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Municipality, the accident is under investigation.
Shoshani and Harari were reportedly buried in adjacent graves this Sunday.
Eden Shoshani, Dean Shoshani’s mother, said: “Just a few months ago, the two of you moved to a new apartment. You made a home that was sweet and pleasant – just like you. Now you’ve passed on together. I remember and treasure every moment with you.”
According to local media, 83 millimetres (3.27 inches) of rain fell in central, coastal Israeli cities on Saturday within just a few hours.
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