A large fire broke out in an underground car park at the BIG shopping centre construction site in Petah Tikva on Monday, where plastic materials and pipes were being stored. The blaze sent thick smoke billowing across a wide area, with plumes drifting towards the neighbouring Neve Gan residential towers. Firefighting crews scrambled to locate the source of the fire and ventilate the underground facility to contain the spread. The BIG centre, one of Israel’s largest retail developments, has not yet opened to the public. Emergency services responded rapidly to the incident as heavy smoke obscured the area. Firefighters worked to access the underground car park and clear toxic fumes from the space. The incident raises questions about safety protocols at the major construction site ahead of its planned opening. No immediate reports of casualties were provided, though the scale of the fire and smoke coverage prompted concern among residents of nearby residential buildings.

Source: Maariv — Original article in Hebrew.