Stormy weather caused damage all over Israel last week. The source of the stormy weather was a cold air mass coming from Turkey.
The clash between the cold air in the atmosphere and the still warm Mediterranean water (21 degrees) created unstable weather conditions expressed in large quantities of rainclouds and strong winds.
As a result of the outstanding stormy weather pounding Israel last week, 26 marine containers, out of 4,000 that the ship was carrying, fell off the "Zim Constanza" container ship at Ashdod Port.
It is understood that some of the containers were smashed open when they fell on the breakwater off the port. Some of the containers included wooden containers of bullets and caps of various weapons. The ammunition that fell to sea poses no danger, and five of the 26 containers have already been washed ashore.
Port employees said that contents from the containers, including children's toys and automobile seats, spilled into the Mediterranean water. Officers of the Ministry of Environmental Protection's Marine and Coastal Environment Division are known to be examining the contents of the remaining marine containers.
In a statement, port officials said the port chief navigator put the "Zim Constanza" outside the harbor after the ship's mooring lines gave way, in order to prevent an accident. The containers fell during the emergency piloting operation and will be recovered when weather conditions permit.
