Locusts invade Israel

2004-11-19 22:46

Jerusalem - Thousands of red locusts swarmed into southern Israel on Friday, threatening the region's agriculture with a biblical-like plague.

The country's agriculture ministry went on high alert after the insects landed in the Red Sea port of Eilat and close-by areas of the Negev desert, Channel Two TV reported. It said authorities feared a larger invasion on Saturday.

Shmuel Ripman, a local government official in the Negev, said a fleet of planes would spray affected areas early on Saturday morning to deal with the threat.

"This is like an Egyptian plague," Ripman said. "They'll eat all the crops in the area, the livelihood of lots of people. I hope we can get the upper hand."

The locusts crossed into Israel from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula, after invading Cairo on Wednesday.

At least 7cm long, they caused Cairenes to swat and stare as they filled the skies in some neighbourhoods of the city.

Locusts, which normally live between two and six months, eat their weight - about 2g - in crops every day. They can travel 200km a day.

- AP