Explosion at Intel factory in Israel kills two workers, police investigate suspected gas cylinder failure

Abstract:

An explosion and fire broke out at the Intel chip factory in Kirigat, southern Israel, on October 14, seriously injuring three workers. As of the 15th local time, two people had died from their injuries, and the third injured person was still receiving severe treatment in the hospital. Police said the cause of the accident is still under investigation and there are no signs of criminal conduct or negligence.

The accident occurred during the transfer of gas received by the factory. Police initially suspected that a gas cylinder may have malfunctioned during unloading or transfer: after one truck completed unloading and was disconnected, an explosion occurred when the second truck was connected. Investigators have not determined the specific fault link, and it is still preliminary judgment whether the gas cylinder was the direct cause of the accident.

All three injured suffered severe burns. The first worker died after being sent to hospital on the 14th; the second injured person, a 49-year-old man, died of his injuries at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba on the 15th. The third injured person, a man in his 20s, is still in critical condition and is being sedated and put on a ventilator.

The explosion also raised fire and leak risks involving nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). NF₃ itself is not flammable, but it is oxidizing and may cause serious harm if inhaled. Firefighting and hazardous materials disposal personnel went to the scene to extinguish the fire and continued to monitor it. Local officials later stated that the scene was under control and the threat to nearby residents had been eliminated, and there was no need to evacuate surrounding communities.

Intel said it was deeply saddened by the deaths of the two workers, expressed condolences to their families, friends and colleagues, and hoped that the third injured person would recover soon. The company said it is fully cooperating with relevant departments in the investigation and providing support to the families of the victims and other affected persons. There is currently no public information on the impact of the accident on production at the plant.