Fri 30 April 2021:
A massive stampede at a densely packed Jewish pilgrimage site killed at least 44 people and some 150 others were injured in northern Israel on Friday, with rescue workers facing chaotic crowds while trying to evacuate the injured.
Video footage showed large numbers of people, most of them black-clad ultra-Orthodox men, squeezed in the tunnel. The Haaretz daily quoted witnesses as saying police barricades had prevented people from exiting quickly.
In pictures: In Israel, loved ones and rescue workers gather at the site of a deadly stampede that took place during Lag BaOmer religious festival at Mount Meron to collect personal belongings left behind by pilgrims 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/HnfO3DkBGn
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) April 30, 2021
The stampede occurred during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron, the first mass religious gathering to be held legally since Israel lifted nearly all restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The country has seen cases plummet since launching one of the world’s most successful vaccination campaigns late last year.
Lag BaOmer draws tens of thousands of people, mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews, each year to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century sage and mystic who is buried there. Large crowds traditionally light bonfires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the stampede a “great tragedy” and said everyone was praying for the victims.
After the stampede, photos showed rows of wrapped bodies lying on the ground, with dozens of ambulances at the site.
Zaki Heller, spokesperson for the Magen David Adom rescue service, said 150 people had been hospitalized, with six in critical condition.
Heller told the station “no one had ever dreamed” something like this could happen. “In one moment, we went from a happy event to an immense tragedy,” he said.
The Israeli military said it had dispatched medics and search and rescue teams along with helicopters to assist.
At least 44 people have been killed after a “disastrous” stampede at a religious bonfire festival in Israel, rescue officials have confirmed.
Israel’s ambulance service has told Sky News that “scores” of people have died.
Read more: https://t.co/eF6rEYel5I pic.twitter.com/iL2I0LQ9MA
— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 30, 2021
Israel is facing a climbing death toll tonight, after an annual Jewish celebration turned to tragedy. At least 44 people were crushed to death in a terrifying crowd stampede. https://t.co/a05FATlQaX @telester #7NEWS pic.twitter.com/B11X0fjUMH
— 7NEWS Brisbane (@7NewsBrisbane) April 30, 2021
Israel has fully vaccinated more than half of its 9.3 million population against the coronavirus, but restrictions on massive public gatherings remain in place to stem the spread of the disease.
Authorities had allowed for 10,000 people to gather at the site of the tomb but organisers said more than 650 buses had been chartered from across the country, bringing 30,000 pilgrims to Meron.
Ultra-Orthodox Jews, known in Israel as haredim, have throughout the pandemic shown resistance towards health and safety measures mandated by the government.
Around 5,000 police had been deployed to secure the event.
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