Nighttime apartment fire in Israel's Netanya leaves two dead updated

A deadly nighttime fire in a residential building on Moshe Ihilov Street in Netanya claimed the lives of two elderly residents, emergency services said.

According to Israeli media, citing statements from Magen David Adom (MADA) and the Israel Fire and Rescue Services, the alarm was raised during the night of Wednesday, February 25, after a blaze broke out in the building.

The fire, accompanied by heavy smoke, left 13 people injured. Two residents — an 83-year-old man and a 76-year-old woman — later died despite rescue efforts. Among the injured, a 73-year-old woman was hospitalised in serious condition with smoke inhalation, while a 42-year-old woman was listed in moderate condition. Seven additional adults and two children sustained minor injuries and were also taken for treatment to Laniado Hospital.

Firefighters reported that thick smoke quickly filled the building during the operation. Residents were instructed to remain inside their apartments while emergency crews carried out an organised evacuation and worked to contain the blaze. Authorities later confirmed that the situation had been fully brought under control.

MDA paramedic Gil Dekel said that after the fire was extinguished, rescuers brought an unconscious man and woman in their 80s to medical teams. Both had no pulse or breathing and were suffering from severe smoke inhalation. Ambulance crews conducted prolonged resuscitation efforts and transported them to the hospital in critical condition, but doctors were ultimately unable to save their lives.

An investigation has been launched to establish the exact cause of the fire.

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In the early hours of February 25, a major fire broke out in an apartment building on Ichilov Street in Netanya, Israel.

According to Mignews, the emergency call came in during the night, with the fire originating on the building’s first floor.

Paramedics from Magen David Adom provided urgent medical assistance at the scene. An approximately 80-year-old man and woman are in critical condition, a 73-year-old woman is in serious condition, and a 42-year-old woman is in moderate condition. In total, 11 people were hospitalised at the local Laniado Hospital. It is noted that less than a day earlier, the same hospital had reported a fire caused by a patient smoking in a ward.

By morning, Magen David Adom teams remained on site, ready to assist other residents if needed. Firefighters and police continue to investigate the exact cause of the fire on the building’s first floor.

By Vugar Khalilov