Explosion in Southern Israel Kills Two Recycling Plant Workers

A welding accident is one theory behind an explosion that killed two workers and left two others injured at a metal recycling plant in southern Israel Tuesday morning, local media report.

The casualties were working at a plant in Ashdod, 32 kilometers south of Tel Aviv. One published account report that metal waste including a gas canister mistakenly thought to be empty were being discarded at the time of the blast.

Another account states that welding work was underway at the time of the blast when several containers filled with flammable gas exploded.

Israeli officials are investigating whether the factory was operating under a valid license at the time of the blast.