Six Thai foreign workers were injured Tuesday morning when old unexploded ordnance detonated in an open area near Metula. Two of the workers were seriously injured. The victims were evacuated by helicopter to a hospital for medical treatment.
Police arrived at the scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances of the explosion. Israel Police bomb disposal personnel were also dispatched to examine the area and determine the exact nature of the ordnance.
Initial reports indicate that the explosion involved cluster munitions that had remained on the ground. However, the circumstances surrounding the detonation are still being investigated.
Metula's local council said the incident occurred in nectarine orchards near the town. According to the council, the ordnance was old and had apparently not been located or neutralized. "Five injured people were evacuated from the area to hospitals, two of them in serious condition," the council said. "There is no concern about a security incident, and life in the town continues as usual."