One Injured in Intel Plant Explosion in Kiryat Gat Dies

One of three workers injured in an explosion at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat on Wednesday has died. The other two workers sustained severe injuries and remain hospitalized in serious condition at Soroka Hospital. The explosion occurred in the afternoon hours at the R&D park in Kiryat Gat while the three employees were working. The incident triggered a fire, with thick black smoke seen rising from the facility. Police suspect the explosion was caused by a gas cylinder, though the exact circumstances are still under investigation. Firefighters confirmed that trifluoromethane (NF₃), a non-flammable but oxidizing gas, was involved in the incident. Specialized teams conducted monitoring for hazardous materials, and representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection were dispatched to assess environmental impacts. Firefighters, hazardous materials teams, and factory personnel eventually gained control of the blaze. No roads or routes around the factory were blocked.