Two missing after Ashkelon crane collapses into the sea

One person is injured and two others are missing after a crane collapsed into the water on an Ashkelon pier late on Monday night.

The unusual collapse of the crane was caused by unusual weather and strong winds, the Israel Electric Company said.

The injured person is in moderate condition and is receiving treatment at Barzilai Medical Center. 

Attempts to contact two people who had been working on the site of the crane have been unsuccessful, leading police to believe that they are missing after falling into the sea. Extensive search and rescue efforts are underway, with the help of police diving units, the elite 669 Search and Rescue unit, the Israeli Navy and others.

"Due to unusual weather and strong winds, the gas pier at the Rotenberg power plant in Ashkelon was damaged, when one of the cranes collapsed and there are fears of casualties," The Electric Company said in a statement. "The Electric Company teams, rescue forces, the police and the navy are currently on the scene. The Electric Company will form a team to investigate the incident."

The coastal areas of the country saw drizzles early Monday afternoon which intensified and spread to the rest of the country bringing in strong winds and fears of flooding in the eastern and southern areas of the country. The rain is expected to continue into Tuesday complete with thunderstorms and lightning.