Ambulance at scene of Gan Yavne fire
Ambulance at scene of Gan Yavne fireMagen David Adom spokesperson

A man and woman in their 60s were critically injured on Thursday night in a fire that broke out their house in Gan Yavne.

Authorities believe the fire broke out as a result of the explosion of a gas canister at the home.

The couple are suffering from second and third degree burns to 70% of their bodies. Another man in his 40s was moderately injured in the fire, suffering burns to his hands as well as from smoke inhalation.

Magen David Adom paramedics who were called to the scene evacuated the three victims the intensive care unit at the Tel Hashomer Hospital.

Another man, in his 60s, who was lightly injured by smoke inhalation was treated at the scene.

זירת הפיצוץ ביבנה

Gas canister explosions have made headlines in Israel several times over the past few years. In May, four people were injured in a gas explosion in a private home on Silwan Blvd. near the Dung Gate in Jerusalem.

In January of 2014, a horrific explosion in the southern Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo killed four, including a couple and their infant son, as well as a 60-year-old woman who was the primary caretaker of her aged Holocaust-survivor parents.

Gas lines were cut in a terror attempt in March of 2014, in the Armon Hanatziv neighborhood of eastern Jerusalem. That incident was discovered to be a terror attack; terrorist Aziz Awisat was indicted for planning the incident, as well as several other attacks on Israelis.