An explosion at Intel’s Kiryat Gat plant in southern Israel has killed two workers and left a third seriously injured, according to Tom’s Hardware. Police suspect a gas cylinder malfunction caused the blast, which occurred during a material transfer into factory tanks. Fire and Rescue Services said the fire involved nitrogen trifluoride, a toxic gas used to clean chipmaking tool chambers, though it is not flammable and it is unclear whether the gas caused the explosion or was simply present.
Intel has not issued a statement about the victims or possible production impact. The site houses Fab 28, which makes processors, 5G, and AI products on Intel 7, the node used for Raptor Lake desktop chips, Emerald Rapids Xeon, and the I/O die of Granite Rapids Xeon. The company had already said Intel 7 and Intel 10 constraints limited its ability to meet demand, with shortages expected into 2026.
Local officials said there was no danger to the public and no evidence of criminal activity or negligence. Emergency crews searched for trapped people, contained the fire, and continued cooling the scene to prevent a secondary incident. Intel is scheduled to report third-quarter results on Oct. 29, but has not said whether it will address the explosion.