Nitzan Goinchman (39) and Irena Radchuk (52) have been identified as the two women who were declared dead after being found unresponsive in a lab at the Ashdod Refinery on Wednesday, according to Israeli media.
Early reports suggest that a malfunction in their oxygen suits may have prevented them from receiving adequate air.
Both victims were in their mid-40s, and one left three young children, ages five, eight, and 10.
The Ashdod Refinery, employing some 400 workers, is responsible for around 40% of Israel’s fuel and cooking gas.
“When we arrived at the scene, we were directed to two women who were lying without a pulse and not breathing,” Magen David Adom MDA-United Hatzalah South volunteers Simcha Hassid and Moshe Dweck said.
“Together with additional Magen David Adom teams, we carried out prolonged resuscitation efforts, including chest compressions, administering medication, and ventilation. Sadly, despite our many efforts, an MDA paramedic was forced to pronounce them dead.”
The refinery said its certified in-house first aid team provided initial treatment until outside responders arrived. It added that the police, the Fire and Rescue Authority, the Environmental Protection Ministry, and other relevant authorities were notified and that the company will investigate and provide updates.
The Israel Police announced that it has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the accident, emphasizing that “at this moment, there is no risk of hazardous materials leaking outside the facility and no danger to the public.”
Firefighters at scene of ammonia leak at factory near Beit She’an
In 2013, two men were killed at the refinery after being exposed to hydrogen sulfide while fixing a pipe leak without their oxygen suits.
On Tuesday, the Environmental Protection Ministry announced it would fine the factory NIS 32 million for air pollution. The refinery said it would appeal the decision.
In a separate incident, an ammonia leak at a factory in Tel Yosef, near Beit She’an, was contained after more than four hours, Israel’s Fire and Rescue Authority said on Wednesday.
Nine firefighting crews were deployed to the factory earlier in the day after reports of the leak were received.
“This is a complicated and dangerous leak involving hazardous materials that require precise work under heavy protection,” Lieutenant Asher Biton, commander of the Afula fire station, said. “We located the source of the leak and dealt with it. In doing so, we ended the incident under full control and without casualties.”
According to the Fire and Rescue Authority Northern District, there is no danger to the public outside the building where abnormal levels of ammonia were measured.
Pesach Benson contributed to this report.