Two Dead in Intel Plant Gas Cylinder Explosion, Investigation Underway

Two workers were killed and a third critically injured in an explosion and fire at Intel's chip plant in Kiryat Gat on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred when a gas cylinder reportedly exploded while being unloaded from a truck in a parking area where gas cylinders are stored. The explosion triggered a fire that produced a large plume of black smoke. First responders arrived to find three injured workers, two of whom later died at Soroka Hospital. The third injured worker remains in intensive care. An investigation into the cause of the accident is being conducted by the police, the Ministry of Labor, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Police have ruled out foul play and are focusing on a potential technical failure. The explosion involved nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), a non-flammable but oxidizing gas, which likely ignited another substance. Intel issued a statement expressing sorrow over the deaths and wishing the injured worker a full recovery, pledging full cooperation with authorities. However, the company has faced criticism for its delayed and limited communication regarding the incident and its ongoing investigation, with calls for greater transparency, especially given Intel's status as a public company receiving state grants. This incident adds to a history of workplace accidents at the Kiryat Gat facility, including fatalities in 2007, 2008, and last year, as well as injuries in 2024. The accident also highlights broader concerns about industrial safety, with organizations like Kav LaOved noting that 14 workers have died in industrial accidents in Israel this year alone.