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Explosion at Intel Advanced Technology Plant in Kiryat Gat Injures Three in Critical Condition
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Three workers seriously injured in explosion at Intel plant in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel. Fire and rescue crews warned of possible hazardous chemical leaks amid the blaze.
Intel blast in Kiryat Gat
An explosion at a factory belonging to Intel Advanced Technology in Kiryat Gat, southern Israel, injured three people and triggered fears of dangerous material leaks. Magen David Adom transported the three injured, all company employees aged between 26 and 50, to Soroka University Medical Center in Beersheba for treatment in critical condition, and two required cardiopulmonary resuscitation after their heartbeat and breathing stopped.
Police reported a suspicion that the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder, while the Fire and Rescue Service said the fire that broke out after the explosion was due to nitrogen trifluoride, a gas that is non-flammable but toxic and dangerous when inhaled. Rescue teams were dispatched, and Channel 13 reported that eight fire and rescue teams were summoned to the fire site to control the flames as thick clouds of black smoke rose.
Firefighting and hazardous monitoring
Israeli news website Ynet reported that the incident involved nitrogen trifluoride, a gas used in semiconductor manufacturing, prompting specialized hazardous materials teams to conduct monitoring and risk assessments. The Fire and Rescue Authority said the incident involved nitrogen trifluoride, a non-flammable gas with oxidizing properties, as firefighters worked to identify the source of the chemicals and extinguish the ensuing fire.
The Jerusalem Post said the explosion was suspected to be a gas cylinder blast, and it added that the Fire and Rescue Authority initially warned that hazardous chemicals may have leaked following the explosion. Mayor Kfir Suissa told residents that after an on-site assessment the fire at the factory was completely extinguished and that there was no danger to the public, while authorities asked the public to stay away from the area.
Intel operations and response
Intel’s Kiryat Gat facility manufactures semiconductor chips, and the site houses Fab 28, which manufactures processors and other chips, and is adjacent to Fab 38, a major expansion project intended to increase Intel’s advanced manufacturing capacity in the country. Enlace Judío reported that the explosion occurred during Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the city, and it said police were investigating a possible leak of dangerous materials.
The Times of Israel reported that police were looking into a possible leak of hazardous materials following the explosion, and it said the Fire and Rescue Service deployed units trained to handle hazardous materials. The Prime Minister’s Office said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with MDA director-general Eli Bin to inquire about the condition of those injured, and it reported that the prime minister wished the injured a speedy recovery and thanked the emergency responders for acting quickly and decisively.