One Injured in Intel Plant Explosion in Kiryat Gat Dies

Doctors at Soroka Hospital in Be'er Sheva confirmed on Wednesday evening, October 14, the death of one of the individuals injured in an explosion at the Intel plant in Kiryat Gat. The hospital administration extended condolences to the deceased's family. Two men injured in the same incident are currently being treated in the intensive care unit at Soroka Hospital, both in serious condition. The Israel Police and Fire and Rescue Services are investigating the circumstances of the explosion. Earlier, Soroka Hospital reported admitting three patients in serious condition with burns. Two men, aged approximately 30 and 50, were evacuated from the scene after resuscitation efforts. Their condition was described as serious and unstable, and they were placed in medically induced comas and connected to ventilators. A third victim, a 26-year-old man, was brought to the hospital in serious but stable condition. Subsequently, one patient's condition was described as critical.

Around 4:00 PM, Kiryat Gat Mayor Kfir Swisa stated that the fire at the plant was fully extinguished and there were no special instructions for residents, with no danger to the public. However, he requested that people avoid the area to allow emergency services to work unimpeded. At the explosion site, Head of the Kiryat Gat Police Department Shalom Shai Alali indicated that there was no immediate suspicion of criminal activity or negligence. He explained that the explosion occurred while material was being transferred from one truck to factory containers, and a secondary connection triggered the blast. Alali added that the site was being cooled to prevent further incidents and that specialists were investigating for additional leaks.

The initial report of the incident was received by Magen David Adom (MDA) dispatch at 2:11 PM. Medical teams and eight fire and rescue crews responded, with specialized hazardous materials units dispatched from nearby stations. Following the explosion, a release of nitrogen trifluoride was detected. Hazardous materials teams conducted monitoring and risk assessments. The Ministry of Environmental Protection confirmed that its southern district staff were on-site to assess the incident and its environmental impact, coordinating with emergency services.

Intel's Kiryat Gat facility manufactures microchips, primarily processors, using Intel 7 technology, including chips for 5G and artificial intelligence. The manufacturing process involves cleaning silicon wafers and applying thin layers of materials, which requires numerous specialized gases and chemical reagents. Nitrogen trifluoride is an industrial gas used in chip production that is hazardous when inhaled, potentially impairing the blood's oxygen-carrying capacity. It is a non-flammable oxidizer that can intensify the burning of other materials.