Health Ministry Lifts Benzene Alert in Kiryat Ata; Schools Reopen
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
The Ministry of Health canceled a directive for alternative learning sites for two Kiryat Ata schools after benzene levels dropped below the standard threshold. The directive was issued on October 10, 2026, due to elevated benzene from refinery maintenance, prompting students to move to temporary locations. Classes will resume normally on October 13, 2026, as the health risk has passed, though monitoring continues.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- The Ministry of Health canceled a directive for alternative learning sites for two Kiryat Ata schools.
- Benzene levels in the air have significantly decreased to below the standard environmental threshold.
- The directive was issued on October 10, 2026, due to elevated benzene from refinery maintenance.
- Classes will resume as normal on October 13, 2026, as the health risk has passed.
- The Ministry of Health will continue daily monitoring of air quality in the area.
The Ministry of Health announced on Monday the cancellation of its directive for alternative learning sites for two schools in Kiryat Ata, the Social High School and Erezim School, located in the industrial zone. This decision follows updated environmental monitoring data indicating a significant decrease in airborne benzene concentrations to levels below the standard environmental threshold.
Last week, the ministry had issued the directive due to elevated benzene levels, attributed to maintenance work at the Bazan oil refineries in the area. Acting on the precautionary principle to protect students and staff, the ministry had ordered students to relocate to temporary sites. The directive was given on October 10, 2026, following severe benzene spikes measured over the weekend of October 9-10, 2026, near the Dashan industrial zone and later at the Old Ministry of Transport monitoring station in Haifa.
With the situation now stabilized and benzene levels below the standard limit, classes at both schools will resume as normal starting Tuesday, October 13, 2026. The ministry stated that the risk to public health has passed. The maintenance and repair work at the Bazan facilities, including damage sustained during the war, was identified as the cause of the temporary benzene increase.
The Ministry of Health will continue to monitor environmental data daily in coordination with the Ministry of Environmental Protection and relevant authorities, providing public updates as needed. Previously, the ministry had also advised the general public within a kilometer of the oil refineries, especially children and pregnant women, to limit outdoor activity.
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