One Dead, Two Seriously Injured in Toxic Gas Explosion at Intel Plant in Kiryat Gat

Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba confirmed Wednesday evening that one of the three people seriously injured earlier in the day in an explosion involving a toxic gas tank at the Intel plant in Kiryat Gat has died.

Three Workers Seriously Injured in Gas Explosion

Firefighters from the Ashkelon regional station were dispatched to the scene, supported by additional crews and specialized hazardous materials units from nearby stations. Eight firefighting and rescue teams brought the fire under control and prevented it from spreading. Monitoring was also carried out for the hazardous substance involved.

An initial examination found that the incident involved nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), a nonflammable gas with oxidizing properties that is considered highly toxic.

Magen David Adom said its medics and paramedics treated and evacuated three injured people to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. A man in his 50s was taken to the hospital in serious and unstable condition after resuscitation efforts, with burns to the upper part of his body. He was sedated and placed on a ventilator. A man in his 30s was also hospitalized in serious and unstable condition after resuscitation, sedated and ventilated, with extensive burns. A 26-year-old man was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition with burns to his upper body. One of the injured later died from his wounds.

MDA paramedics Yuval Elias and Moed Alamor, together with emergency medical technicians Aviad Benhamou and Ido Navon, said: “This was a serious incident involving three workers who suffered severe burns. Two of them, one in his 50s and one in his 30s, had no pulse and were not breathing. We carried out lifesaving resuscitation efforts, including chest compressions, ventilation, and defibrillator shocks. After their pulses returned, we continued providing medical treatment, including sedation and ventilation. A third injured person, a 26-year-old man, suffered severe burns to his upper body. We provided lifesaving treatment and evacuated all three to the hospital in serious condition.”

Authorities Say There Is No Danger to the Public

The Environmental Protection Ministry said: “On-call teams from the ministry’s Southern District and the Ashkelon Cities Association went to the scene to examine the incident and its environmental impact, in coordination with the emergency services operating at the site.”

Police said that after receiving the report, officers were dispatched to the scene and began isolating the area, conducting searches, and directing traffic.

Kiryat Gat Mayor Kfir Suissa called on residents to stay away from the area and urged people not to approach the site until further notice. He said: “Following a situational assessment at the scene involving all relevant authorities, the fire at the Intel plant has been completely extinguished. At this time, there are no special instructions for residents and there is no danger to the public. We ask people not to come to the area so that security and rescue forces can complete their work without interference.”