“Israel”: Massive Fire Engulfs Two Factories in Sderot Amid Fears of Ammonia Leak - Sarmad

A massive fire broke out on Monday morning in an industrial complex in the city of Sderot, south of the occupied territories, affecting two factories belonging to “Strauss” and “Taboghan” companies, and raising fears of a toxic ammonia leak.

The Fire and Rescue Authority of the occupation government stated in a press release that 13 fire crews were working at the site, with reinforcements from other areas en route. The number was later raised to 25 crews, along with two aircraft dispatched to help control the blaze, while Israeli police closed roads and regulated traffic to protect citizens.

Sderot municipality issued instructions for residents in neighboring neighborhoods to stay indoors and keep windows closed as a precaution. The Ministry of Environmental Protection confirmed there was no danger of hazardous chemical leaks, noting that it was closely monitoring the situation with rescue teams on site. Meanwhile, Israel Railways announced that trains would not stop at Sderot station due to the fire.

In a related development, Strauss, one of Israel’s largest food companies, confirmed that a fire had erupted in the warehouse complex in the “Shayir HaNegev” industrial zone near Sderot, where the company’s snack warehouse is located.

The company stated that the warehouse had been fully evacuated, with no injuries reported and no hazardous materials present. The snack factory was located away from the fire zone, allowing production to continue as usual without anticipated product shortages. Meanwhile, Taboghan, specializing in frozen potato products, was assessing the damage amid intense efforts to control the fire and prevent it from spreading to other areas.