4-year-old boy killed, 3 seriously injured in Silwan gas explosion

Police and fire officials open investigation into apartment fire that ignited deadly blast.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
Barkat visits scene of gas tank explosion
A four-year-old Arab boy was killed and three others injured in a gas explosion in Jerusalem’s Silwan neighborhood Monday morning.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said the powerful 8:30 a.m. blast followed a fire in an apartment where the four lived.
“Police received reports of an explosion this morning and officers and fire units quickly arrived at the scene to evacuate the building, cordon off the area, help provide medical treatment to those injured and ensure no other tenants were in danger,” he said.
After being treated by Magon David Adom paramedics at the scene, the three survivors were transferred to Shaare Zedec Medical Center and Hadassah-University Medical Center in Ein Kerem, he said.
According to Rosenfeld, the unidentified victims include a 24-year-old woman who is in serious condition, a fiveyear- old boy in serious condition, and a 50-year-old man who is in satisfactory condition.
All the survivors sustained serious burns and suffered from smoke inhalation, he said.
In January of last year four people were killed in a massive gas explosion in a Gilo apartment complex that displaced hundreds of tenants.
The Supergas technician who serviced the residence was subsequently arrested for alleged negligence.
Rosenfeld said an investigation has been opened to determine the cause of the Silwan fire and explosion.