An explosion and fire have occurred at Intel's production site in Kiryat Gat, Israel, reportedly resulting in several injuries. The incident was reported to the Israeli Fire and Rescue Services at 14:12 local time. Eight rescue teams, including hazardous materials specialists, were dispatched to the facility: they searched the building for potentially trapped workers and worked to extinguish the blaze. The accident affected a facility of strategic importance to the company's production plans — the Fab 38 plant currently under construction.
The Nitrogen Trifluoride Theory
Among the suspected causes of the explosion is a cylinder containing nitrogen trifluoride (NF₃), a toxic gas used in semiconductor manufacturing stages. According to several publications, the accident may have occurred while this gas was being pumped into factory reservoirs, and police are investigating the possibility of a gas cylinder malfunction. However, the definitive cause of the explosion has not been established at the time of publication, and Intel has not issued a comprehensive official statement regarding the circumstances.
What is Known About the Casualties
Reports regarding the number and severity of injuries vary across sources. According to one version, at least three people were injured, with one in critical condition. Another version states that two workers died and another sustained severe burns. Intel has not officially confirmed either the number of casualties or their condition, making it impossible to reconstruct the exact picture of the incident at this time.
Fab 38: Intel's Strategic Asset
The incident occurred at a facility being built as part of the expansion of Intel's infrastructure. According to contractor Hoffman Construction, the project involves creating over 600,000 square feet of cleanrooms — about 55,700 square meters — equipped for EUV lithography chip manufacturing processes. In July 2025, work at the site was reviewed: the contractor was instructed to focus on completing one of the two planned cleanrooms, which was close to completion by the time of the accident. Project completion is scheduled for 2026.
Impact on Production and Timelines
It remains unestablished whether the accident will affect construction timelines or equipment installation. First and foremost, rescue and investigative services note, the causes of the explosion must be determined and the damage to the enterprise assessed. The question of the incident's potential impact on Intel's production plans remains open pending official statements from the company and the results of the investigation.
