An explosion at Intel's Kiryat Gat semiconductor plant injured three employees on Tuesday afternoon, emergency services confirmed. Israeli fire and rescue units responded to the incident at 14:12 local time, deploying eight teams including hazardous materials specialists. One worker remains hospitalized in critical condition, while the other two sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries. Authorities indicated that a nitrogen trifluoride gas cylinder, used in semiconductor manufacturing processes, may have contributed to the blast. The facility houses Intel's sole operational clean room currently under final preparation for equipment installation. Construction contractor Hoffman has reported completing structural work on one of two planned clean rooms, with projected completion scheduled for 2026. The incident underscores the operational intensity of semiconductor fabrication facilities, where specialized gases and high-energy processes are routinely managed within tightly controlled environments.