Two Intel Employees Dead After Factory Explosion in Israel

The number of employees killed in an explosion at the Intel factory in Kiryat Gat, Israel, has risen to two. Ilya Chechulin, 49, from Beer Sheva, died on Thursday morning, October 15, at Soroka Hospital. He had been admitted in critical condition with multiple injuries the previous day. Despite extensive resuscitation efforts, he could not be saved, according to Ynet. The first fatality occurred on October 14, the day of the incident, when another Intel employee, a gas equipment technician, died. His name has not yet been released. A third employee, aged 20 to 30, remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit at Soroka Hospital, sedated and on a ventilator.

The incident is believed to have been caused by a gas cylinder that exploded during the unloading of trucks. A subsequent fire involved a leak of nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), a toxic but non-flammable gas. Hazardous materials specialists monitored the situation, and concerns about a threat to city residents were later dismissed.

Kiryat Gat Police Chief Shai Elali stated at the scene that it was too early to determine if foul play or negligence was involved, suggesting a technical malfunction during the transfer of a substance from a truck's tank to the factory's reservoirs. Intel expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, offered condolences to the families, and wished the injured employee a full recovery. The company pledged full cooperation with the investigation and continued support for those affected.

However, Israel Asal, Legal Advisor to the Forum for the Prevention of Industrial Accidents, argued that the tragedy was preventable. He criticized the Ministry of Labor and the Labor Safety Authority for failing to ensure effective oversight of safety regulations and implement deterrents against employers who endanger workers' lives, calling the incident a result of "serious and prolonged failures" in their operations.