2 Israelis killed in gas explosion in Moldova

Two Israeli citizens were among three people killed on Saturday in a gas canister explosion in a residential building in Moldova, the Foreign Ministry said Monday.

The Israelis, both in their 70s, were on the 15th floor of the building in the capital city of Kishinev when the blast occurred, also injuring dozens, according to local reports.

The explosion was reportedly determined to have been caused by a cooking gas canister illegally placed inside an apartment, presumably because the apartment didn’t have gas supply.

Moldova’s internal affairs minister Alexandru Jizdan said the rescue operations have concluded and an investigation has been opened.

Israel’s consul in neighboring Romania, Rachel Blitzer, who also oversees matters in Moldova, was in contact with local authorities to help transport the victims’ bodies to Israel for burial, the Foreign Ministry said.