Police and other emergency agencies received a growing number of calls, some panic, as residents in areas of Ashdod on Thursday morning, 20 Adar I 5774 reported a foul pungent odor. First callers spoke of a gas leak, but as the odor became increasingly pungent and offensive, to the point some schools sent students home and some parents headed with their children to a kupat cholim clinic, there were mounting safety concerns.

Ministry of Environmental Affairs inspectors were summoned early on in the incident to determine just what was going on as the smell continued become increasingly intense, leading to growing concern among police officials.

It was reported around noon time the smell was traced to gas rigs operating in the Mediterranean off the coast of Ashdod, and it was sending the powerful offensive smell ashore. Officials in Ashdod began issuing a message of calm, informing residents that while the odor was most offensive, it did not pose a danger.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)