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Dozens killed in stampede at Israeli religious festival

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Reuters

<p>* As many as 40 dead, scores hurt at sage&#x27;s grave</p><p>* Throng of tens of thousands defied COVID risks</p><p>* Military assists in evacuation efforts </p><p>MOUNT MERON, Israel - Dozens of people were killed in a stampede at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday, medics said, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a &quot;heavy disaster&quot;.</p><p>Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews had thronged to the Galilee tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai for annual Lag B&#x27;Omer commemorations that include all-night prayer, mystical songs and dance.<br/> </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇮🇱 — INITIAL REPORT: Several injured after a Metal section reportedly collapsed in Meron during Lag Baomer celebrations. Several seriously injured. Updates to follow. <a href="https://t.co/hnIFtG3cW7">pic.twitter.com/hnIFtG3cW7</a></p>— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1387892518243688449?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>The ecstatic crowds packed the Mount Meron slope in defiance of COVID-19 warnings by health officials. Witnesses said people were asphyxiated or trampled in a passageway, some going unnoticed until the PA system sounded an appeal to disperse.</p><p>&quot;We thought maybe there was a (bomb) alert over a suspicious package. No one imagined that this could happen here. Rejoicing became mourning, a great light became a deep darkness,&quot; a pilgrim who gave his name as Yitzhak told Channel 12 TV.</p><p>&quot;Rabbi Shimon used to say that he could absolve the world ... If he didn&#x27;t manage to cancel this edict on the very day of his exaltation, then we need to do real soul-searching.&quot;</p><p>The Magen David Adom ambulance service said 103 people had been injured, including dozens fatally. Channel 12 put the number of dead at 40. These included children, witnesses said.<br/> </p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">🇮🇱🚨 — HORRIFYING: Multi casualty incident with over 15 deaths and many serious injuries, after a metal platform collapsed and caused a massive stampede in Meron, Israel, during Lag Baomer celebrations tonight — More updates to follow. <a href="https://t.co/yKNxFayurv">pic.twitter.com/yKNxFayurv</a></p>— Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheBelaaz/status/1387910499896070153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2021</a></blockquote><div><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charSet="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script></div><p>Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a &quot;heavy disaster&quot;, adding on Twitter: &quot;We are all praying for the wellbeing of the casualties.&quot;</p><p>The Lag B&#x27;Omer event at Mount Meron was thought to be one of the largest gatherings of people - certainly in Israel and perhaps farther afield - since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic more than a year ago.</p><p>As rescue workers tried to extricate the casualties, police shut down the site and ordered revellers out. The Transportation Ministry halted roadworks in the area to enable ambulances and pilgrims&#x27; buses to move unhindered. Military helicopters ferried some casualties to hospitals.</p><p>The Mount Meron tomb is considered to be one of the holiest sites in the Jewish world and it is an annual pilgrimage site.</p><p>Videos posted on social media showed chaotic scenes as Ultra-Orthodox men clambered through gaps in sheets of torn corrugated iron to escape the crush. Bodies lay on stretchers in a corridor, covered in foil blankets.</p><p>Private bonfires at Mount Meron were banned last year due to coronavirus restrictions, but lockdown measures were eased this year amid Israel&#x27;s rapid COVID-19 vaccination programme that has seen more than 50% of the population fully vaccinated. (Additional reporting by Stephen Farrell; Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Stephen Coates)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1662161" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>JERUSALEM - At least 20 people were seriously injured in a crush at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday, medics said, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "heavy disaster".</p>

JERUSALEM - At least 20 people were seriously injured in a crush at a religious bonfire festival in Israel on Friday, medics said, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described as a "heavy disaster".