A suspected toxic leak at a daycare centre in Jerusalem has resulted in the deaths of two babies and left 53 more infants requiring hospital treatment. The incident occurred on Monday at a facility operating without a licence, leading to a major emergency response and the detention of three caregivers for questioning.
Emergency Response and Fatalities
A baby girl was pronounced dead after arriving at Shaare Zedek Hospital in Jerusalem in a critical condition, according to Gal Pachis, head of the hospital's emergency centre. In a separate statement, the Hadassah Medical Centre confirmed a baby boy, around six months old, was declared dead despite extensive resuscitation efforts by medical teams.
Israel's Magen David Adom emergency service initially reported that paramedics were treating and evacuating 55 casualties. "Resuscitation efforts are ongoing, and 53 infants are undergoing further medical examinations and treatment," the service stated. The exact cause of the deaths has not been officially specified by medics.
Unlicensed Facility and Police Investigation
Police confirmed that three caregivers present at the centre have been detained as part of the investigation. The daycare, located in an apartment on Hamem Gimel Street in an ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighbourhood, was operating without a valid licence.
Authorities are examining whether the incident is connected to the building's heating system. "Forensic experts are on site conducting all necessary investigative measures to locate evidence and clarify the circumstances that led to the injuries of the infants," police said in a statement. They noted there were no visible signs of fire or physical damage to the building.
Scene Described as 'War Zone'
Witnesses described a chaotic and distressing scene. Zalmi Neufeld, 22, told AFP he saw emergency personnel pulling children from the building. "I saw parents crying, a lot of kids crying, kids all over the place," he said. "It was like a war zone."
While police initially suspected the incident involved hazardous materials, they later ruled this out. Israeli President Isaac Herzog expressed his profound sorrow on social media platform X. "The loss of the lives of very young children is an immense, unspeakable tragedy, and my heart goes out to all the parents and children who have been affected," he wrote, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability.
