Tourist, 35, dies in Tel Aviv apartment fire; foul play not ruled out

A woman died in an apartment fire on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv on Thursday morning, police and medics said.

Police said the woman, 35, was a tourist but gave no further details. Hebrew media reports said the woman was from Russia.

In a later update, police said that following an initial probe together with the Fire and Rescue Services, it was looking at all possibilities “including a suspicion of murder” in the case.

Screen capture from video of a deadly fire in Tel Aviv, January 18, 2024. (MDA. Used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

Fire investigators identified several spots where the blaze may have broken out, the Walla outlet reported.

The Magen David Adom first responder service said it was alerted to the fire on the fourth floor of a residential building, but when medics arrived they were unable to enter the apartment due to the thick smoke.

Fire and Rescue services eventually brought the unconscious woman out. She was suffering from burns and smoke inhalation, and medics were forced to declare her death at the scene.

A dog that was in the apartment was saved and MDA medics gave it oxygen, the Israel Hayom outlet reported.