Three Injured, One Critical, After Explosion at Intel Plant in Kiryat Gat
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
An explosion and fire at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat on Wednesday, October 14, injured three people, one critically. The injured were taken to Soroka Hospital, with two in severe, unstable condition and one in serious but stable condition. Police are investigating the incident, which involved the transfer of materials and the release of nitrogen trifluoride. The fire was extinguished, and authorities stated there was no danger to the public.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Three people were injured, one critically, in an explosion and fire at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat on October 14.
- Two men, aged 30 and 50, are in severe, unstable condition on ventilators, while a 26-year-old man is in serious but stable condition.
- The explosion occurred during material transfer between trucks and factory containers, releasing nitrogen trifluoride.
- Mayor Kfir Swissa confirmed the fire was extinguished and there was no public danger, but urged people to avoid the area.
- Police are investigating the incident and have not yet identified any criminal activity or negligence.
- Specialized hazardous materials units responded due to the release of nitrogen trifluoride, a gas used in chip manufacturing.
Israeli police and fire services are investigating an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred on Wednesday, October 14, at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat. Three individuals were injured in the incident and transported to Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva. Hospital officials reported one victim is in critical condition, while initial reports stated all three arrived in severe condition with burns.
The injured include two men, aged approximately 30 and 50, who were evacuated after resuscitation efforts and remain in severe, unstable condition, in induced comas and on ventilators. A third victim, a 26-year-old man, is in serious but stable condition.
Kiryat Gat Mayor Kfir Swissa announced around 4:00 PM that the fire was fully extinguished and there was no immediate danger to the public, though he requested people avoid the area to allow emergency services to work unimpeded. Head of the Kiryat Gat Police Department, Shalom Shai Alali, stated at the scene that there was no immediate suspicion of criminal activity or negligence. He described the event as an explosion occurring during the transfer of material from one truck to factory containers, involving the connection of a second truck.
Emergency services, including Magen David Adom (MDA) paramedics and eight fire crews, responded to the incident, which was first reported at 2:11 PM. Specialized hazardous materials units were dispatched due to the release of nitrogen trifluoride, a gas used in chip manufacturing. Environmental Ministry officials were also on-site to assess the incident and its ecological impact.
The Intel plant in Kiryat Gat manufactures microchips, including processors and chips for 5G and AI, using a complex process involving numerous chemicals and gases. Nitrogen trifluoride is an industrial gas that, when leaked, can impair the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity, leading to tissue hypoxia. While non-flammable, it can act as an oxidizer, potentially intensifying fires and the formation of hazardous substances.
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