WATCH: 8th floor blaze in Lod prompts major fire response 

Fire crews are battling a significant apartment fire in Lod's Ganei Ayalon neighborhood, with concerns that residents may be trapped inside.

Four firefighting teams have been dispatched to the scene on Shevet Gad Street, where witnesses reported heavy black smoke and flames billowing from eighth-floor windows of the residential building.

"Our primary focus is conducting a thorough search for any trapped residents while simultaneously working to contain the blaze," said Fire Officer Noam Eliyahu, who is commanding the response.

Emergency crews are currently making their way through the building as the operation continues. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.