Celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem were canceled Wednesday after storms caused flooding in parts of the capital.

Police and firefighters began dispersing dozens of visitors and residents from from the streets of the city, and the Magen David Adom headquarters in Jerusalem received dozens of calls for help. All were answered without injury.

Paramedics took several precautions because of the inclimate weather, including deploying front-wheel drive ambulances and extending employee shifts.

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In several spots in the city visitors taking part in tours of Jerusalem as part of Jerusalem Day were stranded by the rain and had to be evacuated by rescue services.

Rainy weather in Jerusalem led police to cancel nearly all public events to be held Wednesday for Jerusalem Day, including the central ceremony which was to take place on Ammunition Hill in the city. Also, a graduation ceremony for paratroopers, was cancelled after the Sultan's Pools, where its was to be held became full of rainwater disabling the facility's electrical system.

Police have set up several traffic detours in the city and are directing traffic at a number of junctions in the city. The Mount Scopus tunnel which connects Jerusalem to the West Bank settlement of Ma'aleh Adumim has been closed to traffic.