An explosion rocked a military industrial plant north of Tel Aviv last night killing two workers and injuring a third. The victims were identified as Nahum Schwartz and Yerjy Lurie. both aged 50, both married and each the father of two children. Defense Minister Moshe Dayan visited the site this morning. A commission of inquiry has been appointed to investigate the blast which was described as accidental. A spokesman for the plant said it was caused by a “technical mishap.”
The blast rattled windows over a wide area. It was heard in Tel Aviv. Herzliah, Kfar Saba and Petach Tikvah. The location of the plant and the nature of the material it was manufacturing were not disclosed.
Meanwhile the 24th victim of the Eilat ammunition explosion died in a hospital last night of his wounds. He was identified as Sgt. Gershon Kopchik. 29. of Bat Yam. The explosion occurred nine days ago when a truckload of mines was detonated while being unloaded from a naval craft at the Eilat military jetty. Eighteen soldiers and civilians were killed outright and 42 were wounded. Six of the wounded have since died. A military inquiry board said the explosion was accidental and attributed it to negligence.
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