Kikar HaShabbatSecurity18:24

Two Workers Dead After Intel Factory Explosion in Israel

By כיכר השבת, מישאל לוי

Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba

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Hebrew · 6 newsrooms covering

A catastrophic explosion at Intel's factory in Kiryat Gat on Wednesday has resulted in the deaths of two workers, with a third still in serious condition. The blast was caused by the sudden detachment of a high-pressure tank containing toxic nitrogen trifluoride gas, leading to a powerful ignition. Investigations are ongoing into the cause of the tank failure and the factory's safety systems.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Two workers died and a third was critically injured in an explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat factory.
The explosion was caused by the detachment of a high-pressure tank containing nitrogen trifluoride gas.
The released nitrogen trifluoride gas ignited, despite the substance not being flammable.
The incident occurred at the factory entrance and involved a tank holding approximately 8 tons of the chemical.
Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the tank failure and assess safety systems.

Two workers have died following a catastrophic explosion at Intel's factory in Kiryat Gat, which occurred on Wednesday. The second fatality was confirmed on Thursday morning, with the deceased identified as a 49-year-old man who had been in critical condition with multiple injuries. A third worker, in his twenties, remains in serious but stable condition in the intensive care unit, sedated and on a ventilator.

Initial investigations suggest the incident was caused by the sudden detachment of the neck of an industrial tank containing approximately 8 tons of nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gas. This chemical, used in semiconductor manufacturing for cleaning production lines, was under extremely high pressure. The uncontrolled release of the gas led to a powerful ignition, despite NF3 itself not being flammable, but it is toxic and dangerous to inhale.

Fire and rescue services responded to the scene, extinguishing a fire that broke out after the explosion. The incident, which occurred at the factory entrance, is being investigated by safety experts and fire investigators to determine the cause of the tank failure and the performance of the facility's safety systems. Such an event is considered exceptionally rare and requires strict emergency protocols.

The explosion was initially reported by police as a gas cylinder explosion. The incident is unrelated to a tour Prime Minister Netanyahu conducted in the area on the same day.