Fifteen people were injured during an explosion and subsequent fire that occurred in a restaurant and liquor store in Nazareth shortly before midnight on Wednesday, according to Israel Police.
Emergency services were called to the scene after patrons of the restaurant and witnesses reported an explosion
Magen David Adom additionally responded to the scene, evacuating injured individuals to nearby hospitals to receive treatment for burns and injuries sustained from falling debris.
"We already noticed thick black smoke from the nearby street," Maariv quoted MDA paramedic Omar Daif as recounting. "As we approached, we saw flames coming out of a building and about 11 fully conscious injured people, with four of them lying on the side of the road."
Three of the injured, including a 25-year-old man, are in serious condition, three, including a 30-year-old man, are in moderate condition, and nine others were minorly injured.
Fire and Rescue cleared scene, will further investigate
Despite earlier concerns that people may have been trapped in the restaurant, firefighters searched the building after putting out the flames and found that all individuals had successfully escaped, Maariv reported.
The cause of the explosion was reported to be a gas leak by Israel Fire and Rescue.
According to Israel Fire and Rescue, a probe into the incident will be conducted by an arson investigator.