Schools Closed, Residents Advised to Stay Indoors After Benzene Spike Near Haifa Refineries

Health authorities have ordered the closure of two schools, the Social High School and Erezim School, near the Haifa refineries complex for the next 24 hours due to abnormally high benzene levels detected in the area. Classes will be moved to alternative locations. The decision was made in consultation with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the Kiryat Ata municipality.

Residents within a kilometer of the refineries are advised to limit outdoor activity, with special emphasis on children and pregnant women. Workers in the industrial zone have been instructed to close windows and use air conditioning. The elevated benzene readings were first identified on October 9-10, 2026, at a mobile monitoring station near the "Deshenim" industrial area in Kiryat Ata, with other stations in the vicinity showing normal levels at that time.

By October 11, higher benzene levels were also recorded at the Haifa Ministry of Transport station and the mobile station. While levels decreased during morning school hours, they rose again in the afternoon. The proximity of the schools to the Bazan refinery complex prompted the professional consultations that led to the public and educational directives.

The Ministry of Environmental Protection has also halted maintenance work at the refinery complex pending an investigation. The ministry held an urgent meeting with refinery representatives, demanding a detailed plan for future maintenance, including measures to prevent further environmental violations, as a condition for resuming work. A further assessment is scheduled for the following day, with an updated public announcement expected afterward.

In parallel, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is advancing the government's policy to cease petrochemical operations in the Haifa Bay area. This initiative, aligned with government decisions and urban planning TAMA 75, aims to improve air quality, protect public health, and reduce environmental hazards in the region.