Two Dead and One Seriously Injured in Explosion at Intel Plant in Kiryat Gat
Two Beersheba residents died and a third was seriously injured in a rare nitrogen trifluoride explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat plant, prompting a full technical investigation.
Tragedy at Intel Plant in Kiryat Gat Claims Two Lives
The first fatality from the explosion at the Intel plant, whose death was confirmed Wednesday evening, has been identified as 35-year-old Yakir Koshashvili from Beersheba. According to Fire and Rescue Services, an initial investigation indicates the blast was likely caused by a technical failure involving the rupture of a container neck holding eight tons of nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃). The incident is described as rare, and it remains unclear whether it resulted from wear and tear or could have been prevented.
Victims Identified and Investigation Underway
Earlier today, it was published that the second fatality in the technology plant explosion in Kiryat Gat is 49-year-old Ilya Chechulin, also from Beersheba. A third victim, a young man in his twenties who is also an employee of the company, is hospitalized in the internal intensive care unit at Soroka Medical Center in serious condition, sedated and on a ventilator. Beersheba Mayor Ruvik Danilovich mourned the two on X, writing:
The city of Beersheba bows its head and grieves the tragic deaths of city residents Yakir Koshashvili and Ilya Chechulin, of blessed memory, following the explosion at the Intel plant in Kiryat Gat. Our hearts are with the dear families in this difficult hour, and professional teams are closely supporting them.
Shai Alali, commander of the Kiryat Gat police station, stated at the scene that investigators are currently unaware of any suspicion of criminal intent or negligence, noting that a technical failure occurred after a truck emptied material into the plant's tanks. Intel released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the deaths of the two workers and wishing a full recovery to the injured employee, while emphasizing full cooperation with the investigating authorities.
