1 killed in Jaffa truck explosion
One person killed, six other people injured after truck explodes in central Jaffa street. Police, medics rush to scene
The explosion occurred at the truck's rear, which was completely destroyed.
Massive damage was caused to houses in the area of the blast, and several cars caught fire and were totally destroyed.
Massive damage caused (Photo: Yaron Brenner)
Firefighters, Magen David Adom paramedics and police forces were dispatched to the scene, and an initial examination by sappers indicated that the blast was not caused by explosives.
Itay Shovas, an MDA paramedic told Ynet, "We arrived at the place to find one person lying dead near the truck and two other people who were moderately to seriously injured, one of them was the truck driver, and the other a passerby.
"We later attended to four other people, who sustained ricochet casualties or suffered from shock."
The officer in charge of the firefighters operating at the place, Doron Netanel, said, "We saw a huge truck carrying a cargo of foodstuff and beverages, including gas cylinders that exploded. Ten vehicles in the area were severely damaged."
Netanel said that the firefighters' work at the place was done, and estimated that the explosion was caused by a leakage in one of the gas cylinders.
Joe Terry, 29, a Jaffa resident, told Ynet: "A large explosion was heard that rattled the entire building. Although I was inside, with the windows closed and the air conditioner on, I felt everything shaking. I've been living in Jaffa for nine years, and am used to fire crackers and gas cylinders explosions, but this time it was unusually loud."
Ali Waked contributed to the report
