● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportMedium impact1 negative
Explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat Chip Plant in Israel Kills Two, Injures One
Key points
- Two workers died, one seriously injured in explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat plant.
- Police suspect a gas cylinder malfunction; fire involved nitrogen trifluoride (NF3).
- The plant houses Fab 28, producing processors, 5G, and AI products.
- No immediate statement from Intel on victims or production impact.
Fatal Explosion at Intel Facility
An explosion occurred at Intel's Kiryat Gat chip plant in southern Israel, leading to the deaths of two workers and serious injuries to another. The incident took place on Wednesday, with emergency services responding to the scene.
Cause and Substances Involved
Police are investigating a suspected gas cylinder malfunction as the cause of the explosion. Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services confirmed that the fire involved nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), a toxic gas primarily used for cleaning process chambers in chip manufacturing tools. The explosion happened during a material transfer into factory tanks, as one truck disconnected and another connected.
Plant Operations and Products
The Kiryat Gat site is home to Fab 28, which Intel states produces "processors, 5G, and AI products" utilizing Intel 7 technology (formerly 10nm Enhanced SuperFin). Products associated with Intel 7 include 13th and 14th Gen Core "Raptor Lake," 5th Gen Xeon "Emerald Rapids," and the I/O die of Xeon 6 "Granite Rapids." An adjacent facility, Fab 38, announced in December 2023, has been paused since mid-2024.
Emergency Response and Safety
At least eight Fire and Rescue Services teams, including hazmat units, were deployed to search for trapped individuals, contain the fire, and monitor hazardous substances. While NF3 is hazardous if inhaled, it is not flammable. After extinguishing the fire, crews continued cooling the area to prevent further incidents. Authorities stated there was no immediate danger to the public or need for evacuations.
Intel's Response and Impact
Intel has not yet released any statements regarding the victims or potential impacts on production at the Kiryat Gat facility. There is no indication of criminal activity or negligence at this stage of the investigation.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
An explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat chip manufacturing plant in southern Israel resulted in two fatalities and one serious injury. Police suspect a gas cylinder malfunction caused the incident, which involved nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), a toxic gas used in chipmaking.