Tragedy in Israel, chaos to a pilgrimage to Meron: at least 40 dead

by time news

Tens of thousands of people took part on the night of Thursday to Friday in an annual pilgrimage to northern Israel for the largest public event in the country since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The pilgrimage, on the occasion of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer, takes place in Meron, around the alleged tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochaï, a 2nd century Christian-era Talmudist who is credited with writing the Zohar, a central work of Jewish mysticism. The authorities had allowed the presence of 10,000 people in the grave enclosure but, according to organizers, more than 650 buses were rented across the country, that is at least 30,000 people, while the local press reported the presence of 100,000 people.

After midnight the bleachers suddenly collapsed, causing panic scenes. In addition to the 44 dead, there are about 150 people injured in the Mont Meron crowd: six are in critical condition, 18 in serious condition, eight in moderate conditions and 80 lightly injured, and over 250 ambulances and six helicopters have arrived at the scene to evacuate. the wounded, writes the Jerusalem Post. A field hospital was set up on site. Israeli police and IDF soldiers worked to evacuate the wounded and clear the crowd. Telephone service in the area went out of business as thousands of people tried to contact family members and emergency services.

Referring to the consequences of the first major event organized by the Coronavirus emergency, the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a “terrible disaster”.

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