Family wiped out in Gilo: Parents and baby killed

Tonight (Sunday) at midnight, a loud explosion in the Gilo neighborhood in Jerusalem. On Shabtai Hanegbi Street, a gas canister exploded, apparently on the second floor, followed by the partial collapse of the building.

Many teams were dispatched to the scene, including fire fighting, Ichud Hatzala, MDA and ZAKA .

The parents in their 30's were killed in the blast, a two years old baby in critical condition was taken to Shaare Zedek Hospital, and another four casualties, one moderately and 3 mildly injured – were evacuated by MDA ambulances to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital.

A neighbor told Behadrey Haredim that this religious couple married five years ago and moved there, two years ago they had a baby. He said the man's parents live in the neighborhood.

ZAKA team arrived and is taking care of the bodies of the dead. Likewise HFC teams arrived on the scene. Among the parties which arrived was Mayor Nir Barkat.

At 03:20am MDA spokesman Zaki Heller said that MDA teams who are searching the area, located 14 casualties, including two killed (a man and a woman in their thirties) , a two years old baby in critical condition with severe multi-system damage who was taken while performing resuscitation to Shaare Zedek Hospital, a woman of about 60 in serious condition drowsy with severe multi-system damage; a mildly wounded man of about 60, who was trapped under the wreckage, was taken to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital with head injuries and in the extremities, conscious and stable; 7 mild injuries, including a woman of about 50 with burns on her face; a man of about 80 with a foot injury and a girl of about 12 with a head injury, were evacuated by MDA teams to Hadassah. Additionally, MDA teams evacuated a couple in their 60s, slightly wounded, to Shaare Zedek hospital. Two more are anxiety victims.

Moriah Region investigators detained a gas technician who arrived yesterday evening at the building where the explosion occurred, at the request of residents of the building, to check a gas leak. An initial investigation of the incident indicates that the technician gave primary care/ temporary until the morning. Investigation of the incident continues.

Lt.- General Shahar Ayalon, commander of the firefighting services, said: "It is difficult to know the source of the explosion. We will try to restore and to conclude how it happened. Neighbors said they invited a gas technician. It is not clear what he did, but there is no doubt that this is negligence."

Photo: Udi Gal, spokesman for the Jerusalem firefighting

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!