A factory fire in Sderot led to a confirmed ammonia leak, prompting the evacuation of the entire industrial zone, according to reports.
The ammonia leak from the Sderot factory fire has been officially confirmed, the latest in a series of developments this morning. The confirmation follows earlier reports of the leak and subsequent evacuations, as the fire at the Strauss and Tapugen factories in the Sha'ar HaNegev industrial zone continues to burn.
At 09:56, the fire was first reported, with footage showing flames at the factories. Within minutes, multiple reports at 09:56 indicated an ammonia leak, leading to the evacuation of the adjacent commercial center and then the entire industrial zone. The Zioneer reported at 10:41 that the entire industrial zone was evacuated, with 13 firefighting crews operating at the scene. At 10:42, Magen David Adom (MDA) confirmed three light injuries, one from smoke inhalation and two during the evacuation.
The Sderot municipality had earlier ordered residents of the Shchunat HaMusica neighborhood to stay indoors and close windows due to hazmat concerns. The fire is concentrated at the Strauss and Tapugen factories, as reported by N12 and i24NEWS.
The fire remains ongoing, and emergency services are working to contain the blaze and mitigate the hazardous material release. No further casualties have been reported, and the status of the ammonia leak containment is not yet known.
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