Two dead, one injured in explosion at Intel’s Kiryat Gat chip plant
An explosion at Intel’s Israeli facility killed two workers and seriously injured another, with police suspecting a gas cylinder malfunction.
Key points
- Two workers died and one was seriously injured in an explosion at Intel’s Kiryat Gat plant.
- Police suspect a gas cylinder malfunction caused the blast during a material transfer.
- Intel has not issued statements regarding the victims or potential production impacts.
Two workers died and a third was seriously injured after an explosion occurred at Intel’s Kiryat Gat semiconductor facility in southern Israel on Wednesday, according to The Times of Israel. Police investigators suspect that a gas cylinder malfunction triggered the incident, while emergency services confirmed the fire involved nitrogen trifluoride, a toxic chemical used for cleaning chipmaking equipment process chambers.
Israel’s Fire and Rescue Services deployed at least eight teams, including hazardous materials specialists, to search for trapped individuals and contain the blaze. Magen David Adom reported that two of the injured victims underwent resuscitation efforts and all three suffered severe burns. Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba stated that one victim was pronounced dead at the scene, a second later died from their wounds, and the third remains hospitalized in serious condition in the intensive care unit.
Incident Timeline and Investigation
The Kiryat Gat police commander described the sequence of events, noting the blast occurred during a material transfer into the factory’s storage tanks. The incident happened after one delivery truck had disconnected from the facility and another truck was in the process of connecting. The commander explicitly stated there is currently no suspicion of criminal activity or negligence regarding the cause of the explosion.
Nitrogen trifluoride is hazardous if inhaled but is not flammable, raising questions about its direct role in the ignition. It remains unclear whether the trucks involved were delivering this specific gas or if it was directly responsible for causing the explosion. Emergency responders focused on monitoring the hazardous substance and ensuring the area was secure after the initial blast and subsequent fire.
Facility Context and Production
The Kiryat Gat site houses Fab 28, which Intel states manufactures processors, 5G components, and AI products using the Intel 7 process node. This node, formerly known as 10nm Enhanced SuperFin, is used for products including 13th and 14th Gen Core processors and certain Xeon chips. While these products are associated with the process, Intel has not explicitly linked their production to this specific facility in public statements.
Adjacent to the existing fabs, Intel announced Fab 38 in December 2023 with a $3.25 billion grant from the Israeli government. However, construction on that expansion has been paused since mid-2024. Reports indicated Intel considered closing Fab 28 in July 2025, but no official closure decision has been announced. Intel has not released any statements regarding the victims or potential impacts on production at the site.
What should you do?
Security and technology professionals should monitor official communications from Intel for updates on supply chain disruptions or production delays. Organizations relying on specific Intel 7-based components should assess their inventory levels and alternative sourcing options. Stakeholders should review their vendor risk management protocols to ensure they have contingency plans for manufacturing incidents at key supplier sites.
What to do and how to stay safe: Intel
- Monitor official Intel channels for announcements regarding production status or supply chain impacts.
- Review current inventory levels of Intel 7-based components to assess short-term supply risks.
- Evaluate alternative sourcing options for critical components to mitigate potential manufacturing delays.
- Update vendor risk management plans to include contingencies for major incidents at key supplier facilities.
Step-by-step guide: Mobile Device Security: How to Protect Data Beyond Passwords
General security guidance from the Threat Times newsroom. It is not confirmed advice from the organisations named in this story.
Frequently asked questions
How many people were killed in the explosion at Intel's plant?
Two workers were confirmed dead, and a third worker remains hospitalized in serious condition.
What caused the explosion at the Kiryat Gat facility?
Police suspect a gas cylinder malfunction caused the explosion during a material transfer process.
Is Intel's production affected by this incident?
Intel has not issued any statements regarding potential production impacts at the site.
