Scores killed in stampede at Israel pilgrimage site

MERON (Israel) – A massive stampede at a densely packed Jewish pilgrimage site killed at least 44 people in northern Israel today, leaving emergency workers scrambling to clear the area and evacuate the critically injured.

The disaster occurred here at the site of the reputed tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a second-century Talmudic sage, where mainly ultra-Orthodox Jews flock to mark the Lag BaOmer holiday. 

Closed last year due to Covid-19 restrictions, this year’s pilgrimage is the largest public gathering since the pandemic began. 

Rescue workers initially said chaos erupted when a section of stadium seating collapsed, but later revised that account to say the casualties were caused by a stampede. 

Israeli media published an image of a row of bodies covered in plastic bags on the ground.

Magen David Adom, Israel’s rescue service, reported at least 44 dead, and said it will “fight for the lives of dozens wounded, and will not give up until the last victim is evacuated”.

Emergency services deployed six helicopters to evacuate the injured. 

The army said its medical teams and “a number of Israeli Air Force helicopters with medical teams... are assisting in the mass casualty incident on Mount Meron”.

“The forces are assisting in the evacuation of injured and killed civilians, and providing medical treatment at the scene.”

Overcrowding

Israel has fully vaccinated more than half of its 9.3 million population against Covid-19, but restrictions on massive public gatherings remain in place to stem the spread of the virus. 

Authorities allowed 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 here.

The pilgrimage is primarily attended by ultra-Orthodox Jews, a community that has at times resisted mandatory health and safety measures during the coronavirus crisis.

Some 5,000 police were deployed to secure the event.

The area has since been closed, with rescue workers and security forces attempting to clear the site. – AFP, April 30, 2021