Old Ordnance Explosion Near Metula Injures Six Foreign Workers, Two Critically

Six foreign workers were injured on Tuesday morning by the explosion of an old ordnance in an open nectarine orchard near Metula, Israel's northernmost settlement. The incident occurred at 06:52, with two workers critically wounded, one moderately injured, and three sustaining minor injuries. The victims, all men around 40 years old, were treated on-site by paramedics from Magen David Adom (MDA) and the IDF medical corps before being evacuated. Two critically injured and one moderately injured patient were airlifted by helicopter to Rambam Hospital in Haifa, while the three lightly injured were transported by ambulance to Ziv Medical Center in Safed.

Senior MDA medic Moti Barel reported that the injured were conscious upon arrival and received immediate treatment including bleeding control and medication. The police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the explosion, with bomb disposal experts dispatched to the scene. Authorities issued a public warning against touching any suspicious fragments or remnants of military ordnance in the area, urging immediate reporting to emergency services.

At Ziv Medical Center, one critically injured patient was taken directly to surgery, while another was undergoing imaging tests to assess his condition. The remaining patients were receiving ongoing emergency care. The incident highlights the ongoing risks posed by unexploded ordnance in northern Israel, especially near border areas.