Holon Parents Demand Halt to Daytime Construction After Crane Collapses Near Special-Needs Daycare
Parents of special-needs toddlers in Holon are demanding an immediate halt to nearby construction work after a crane and scaffolding collapsed onto their daycare roof, narrowly avoiding a major disaster.
A series of severe safety hazards at a special-needs daycare center in Holon has prompted desperate demands from parents to halt nearby construction work immediately, warning that lives are at serious risk. The incidents occurred within days at Gan Michal, a municipal facility catering to toddlers up to three years old with special needs.
The danger stems from an active construction site located yards away at the Yavne Girls School, where crews are building a courtyard canopy. Construction has continued unabated during daycare operating hours, running from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM. A week ago, excavation work severed the roots of a nearby tree, threatening its collapse. An agronomist ordered an immediate evacuation and the tree's removal, forcing the daycare to close for two days.
A far more dangerous incident occurred when scaffolding and a large crane collapsed onto the roof of the daycare. Miraculously, the heavy structure missed the tin roof of the courtyard by mere inches. Parents reported arriving to find children consolidated into a single room amid total chaos, while the facility's director remained in shock.
Parents have appealed to the Holon municipality, the mayor's office, and local police without receiving a satisfactory response. They are demanding an immediate suspension of construction during operating hours, rigorous safety investigations, and permanent municipal oversight. Chaims Israel, the NGO operating the daycare, stated it views the incidents with utmost gravity and has demanded an immediate halt to daytime construction. The Holon municipality announced that work has been temporarily suspended pending a safety review.
