New Delhi, May 1 -- Israeli authorities said on Thursday the massive bushfire that erupted near Jerusalem were largely brought under control.

All major roads, including the Jerusalem-Tel Aviv corridor, were also reopened, but firefighting teams were still tackling lingering hotspots.

The blaze, which ignited along the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway on Wednesday, prompted widespread evacuations and road closures as firefighters battled through the night to contain the fire.

"The fire is under control," said Shlomi Harush, a senior official with the firefighting service, told news agency AFP.

"There are only hotspots left... all teams remain deployed across the affected areas," he said.

Harush also warned that strong winds could still...