Kikar HaShabbatביטחון19:27

Truck Driver Arrested for Dumping Hazardous Waste Causing Foul Odor in Rishon LeZion

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Police in Rishon LeZion arrested a truck driver suspected of dumping hazardous fuel and oil waste into the city's sewage system, causing a severe odor. The incident, which began Sunday, led to residents reporting vomiting and breathing difficulties, prompting an investigation by multiple agencies. Mayor Raz Kinestlich identified the source as illegal waste dumping, and cleanup operations are underway while police continue their investigation into the suspect.

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A truck driver was arrested in Rishon LeZion for allegedly dumping hazardous waste into the city's sewage system.
The dumping caused a severe odor, leading to residents reporting vomiting and breathing difficulties.
Mayor Raz Kinestlich identified the source as illegal dumping of fuel and oil waste.
Cleanup operations involving flushing and pumping of contaminants are currently underway.
The arrest follows a three-day investigation and manhunt by police.

Police in the Central District arrested a truck driver in his 50s on Wednesday evening, suspected of dumping hazardous materials into Rishon LeZion's municipal sewage system. The arrest followed a three-day manhunt after a severe and unusual environmental odor plagued the city, disrupting residents' lives. The suspect is being interrogated as authorities investigate the incident, suspecting illegal dumping of industrial waste to save on disposal costs.

The foul smell began on Sunday, with numerous reports of a strong chemical odor across wide areas of the city. Residents in western Rishon LeZion described a gas-like smell, and some parents reported children vomiting. Two women, aged 30 and 80, sought medical attention at Shamir Medical Center with apparent breathing difficulties and were treated in the emergency department.

Special monitoring teams from the Fire and Rescue services, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and the Home Front Command were deployed to the scene. Initial air monitoring and sampling from sewage outlets did not detect abnormal gas concentrations or hazardous materials. However, after laboratory tests and infrastructure reviews, Rishon LeZion Mayor Raz Kinestlich announced on Tuesday that the source of the odor was identified as a severe sanitation hazard caused by the injection or dumping of fuel and oil waste into the city's sewage pipes.

"The Home Front Command and the Ministry of Environmental Protection took samples here, and they are convinced that this is the source of the severe odor nuisance we have all experienced in recent days," Kinestlich stated. City teams, along with the Ministry of Environmental Protection, began specialized flushing and targeted pumping operations to neutralize the contaminants and eliminate the odor.

Concurrently, the police investigation quickly led to the identification and arrest of the truck driver. The municipality noted that a comprehensive investigation is underway to identify and prosecute those responsible for dumping the hazardous waste. This incident follows a series of similar cases involving illegal dumping of construction and industrial waste. In a large-scale enforcement operation in October in the central region, 14 suspects were arrested for illegal dumping and burying of construction waste and soil in Rishon LeZion and Holon, with 18 trucks and two loaders valued at tens of millions of shekels seized.