Two workers have died following a severe explosion and fire at the Intel facility in Kiryat Gat, according to ongoing reports from the scene. The disaster, which unfolded at the industrial complex on Zinc Avenue in Rabin Industrial Park, left three men critically injured before the fatalities were confirmed.
According to Globes, the first injured worker died during the evening following the blast, and the death of a second worker was determined the following morning. A third worker, described as being in his twenties, remains hospitalized in critical condition at Soroka Medical Center, where he is sedated and on a respirator.
Emergency Response and Hazardous Materials Monitoring
The incident began when emergency dispatchers received reports of a loud blast and thick black smoke rising from the manufacturing plant. Emergency responders, including eight firefighting and rescue teams from Ashkelon and neighboring stations alongside specialized hazardous materials units, were rushed to the location. Firefighters worked to secure the seat of the fire, prevent its spread, and scan the premises for trapped individuals while monitoring airborne hazards.
3 people reportedly injured following an explosion and hazardous materials leak at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat pic.twitter.com/7sgYH3cM7H
— https://x.com/i24NEWS_EN/status/2110338532221038683
Authorities identified a specific chemical involvement at the disaster site: nitrogen trifluoride. This gas, commonly utilized within the semiconductor industry for cleaning systems and production chambers, is non-flammable but possesses oxidizing properties that can intensify combustion in the presence of other materials. Because of these characteristics, hazardous materials crews maintained continuous monitoring and risk assessments while authorities established a half-kilometer isolation radius around the compound.
Police from the Southern District cordoned off the area and directed traffic to keep the public clear of potential danger. Representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Ashkelon Towns Association arrived at the scene to evaluate the environmental implications of the event in coordination with emergency responders.
Timeline of the Emergency
The sequence of events developed rapidly after the initial emergency calls:
- 14:11: Emergency medical services received initial reports of workers suffering severe burns during their shift at the facility (Bizportal).
- 14:12: Fire and Rescue services logged the emergency following reports of a loud explosion and thick smoke (News08).
- Afternoon Hours: Firefighting teams gained control of the fire source while medical personnel treated three injured workers—initially described in critical and unstable condition with extensive burns—before transporting them to Soroka Medical Center (News08, Ice).
- Evening and Following Morning: Hospital officials confirmed the deaths of the first and second injured workers (Globes).
Ongoing Investigation and Context
Investigators from the police and fire services are examining the exact cause of the blast and fire. According to preliminary police assessments, authorities are investigating a suspected gas cylinder explosion as the origin of the fire, though officials have not yet officially concluded the final cause or specified the contents of the cylinder.
The Kiryat Gat manufacturing facility is one of Intel’s primary chip production sites in Israel, employing thousands of direct workers and supporting a wide network of contractors and suppliers in gas, chemical, and maintenance sectors. Questions regarding whether production operations at the plant have been halted remain unanswered as emergency agencies and investigators continue their work at the cordoned site.