Tragedy struck Jerusalem’s ultra-Orthodox Romema community when lethal carbon monoxide infiltrated an apartment-based daycare, killing two innocent children and poisoning dozens more. The Monday morning crisis at Ha’Mem Gimmel Street exposed glaring safety gaps in underground childcare.
Magen David Adom confirmed the fatalities: two toddlers among 55 treated for gas exposure. The center housed kids from four months to three years, with rescuers battling to save as many as possible in a frenzied operation.
One poignant detail emerged – a four-month-old baby’s first and last day at daycare. Police swiftly arrested three staffers, scrutinizing a potentially defective heating system as the culprit.
Unbelievably, the Education Ministry stated no licensing request was ever filed, allowing the facility to operate unchecked. United Hatzalah and trauma specialists rallied to evacuate victims and comfort anguished parents clustered nearby.
Responders worked tirelessly to air out the contaminated space, issuing public safety alerts. This catastrophe demands immediate reforms to license and inspect all daycares, preventing future heartbreak for Israel’s youngest citizens.