At Least 45 Killed at Israel Religious Festival
2021-05-01
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1A crowd of people was involved in a stampede at a Jewish religious celebration in northern Israel killing at least 45 people Friday.
2About 150 people were injured.
3Tens of thousands of conservative Jews, known as ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended the event.
4Officials said the incident was one of the country's deadliest civilian disasters.
5Witnesses said the stampede began when large numbers of people tried to go through a narrow path during the event.
6A video shows people falling on top of each other near the end of a path as they walked down slippery metal steps.
7One of the injured people, Avraham Leibe, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the crowd could not stop from falling down the steps.
8He said, "I saw one after the other fall."
9The stampede happened during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron.
10It was the first mass religious gathering to be held legally since Israel lifted the country's coronavirus restrictions.
11Lag BaOmer draws tens of thousands of people.
12Most of them are ultra-Orthodox Jews.
13They come each year to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a religious leader who lived about 1,800 years ago and is believed to be buried there.
14The crowds traditionally light fires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations.
15This year, an estimated 100,000 people attended the event.
16Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mount Meron on Friday.
17He said it was "one of the worst disasters that has befallen the state of Israel."
18He announced Sunday would be a day of national mourning.
19Health and rescue officials said at least 45 people were killed in Friday's stampede.
20Later in the day, officials were still trying to identify some of the victims and contact families with missing relatives.
21Zaki Heller, a spokesman for the rescue service, confirmed that 150 people had been hurt in the stampede, with six hospitalized in very serious condition.
22He told Israel Army Radio, "in one moment, we went from a happy event to an immense tragedy."
23The deadly stampede could also affect the uncertain political situation in Israel.
24Netanyahu has so far been unsuccessful in forming a governing coalition.
25He needs the continued support of ultra-Orthodox political parties.
26Over the objections of health officials, the prime minister told ultra-Orthodox politicians that the Lag BaOmer celebrations could take place with few limitations.
27At this year's celebrations, police had deployed 5,000 extra forces to maintain order.
28A police spokesman said the crowd on Mount Meron this year was similar to previous years.
29But some bonfires were divided into smaller areas as a COVID-19 safety measure.
30Israeli media suggested that may have created narrow pathways at the celebrations.
31Last year, observances on Mount Meron were limited and private bonfires were not permitted because of pandemic restrictions.
32The Justice Ministry said police were launching an investigation into possible wrongdoing by officers.
1A crowd of people was involved in a stampede at a Jewish religious celebration in northern Israel killing at least 45 people Friday. About 150 people were injured. 2Tens of thousands of conservative Jews, known as ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended the event. Officials said the incident was one of the country's deadliest civilian disasters. 3Witnesses said the stampede began when large numbers of people tried to go through a narrow path during the event. A video shows people falling on top of each other near the end of a path as they walked down slippery metal steps. 4One of the injured people, Avraham Leibe, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the crowd could not stop from falling down the steps. He said, "I saw one after the other fall." 5The stampede happened during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron. It was the first mass religious gathering to be held legally since Israel lifted the country's coronavirus restrictions. 6Lag BaOmer draws tens of thousands of people. Most of them are ultra-Orthodox Jews. They come each year to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a religious leader who lived about 1,800 years ago and is believed to be buried there. The crowds traditionally light fires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations. 7This year, an estimated 100,000 people attended the event. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mount Meron on Friday. He said it was "one of the worst disasters that has befallen the state of Israel." He announced Sunday would be a day of national mourning. 8Health and rescue officials said at least 45 people were killed in Friday's stampede. Later in the day, officials were still trying to identify some of the victims and contact families with missing relatives. 9Zaki Heller, a spokesman for the rescue service, confirmed that 150 people had been hurt in the stampede, with six hospitalized in very serious condition. He told Israel Army Radio, "in one moment, we went from a happy event to an immense tragedy." 10The deadly stampede could also affect the uncertain political situation in Israel. 11Netanyahu has so far been unsuccessful in forming a governing coalition. He needs the continued support of ultra-Orthodox political parties. Over the objections of health officials, the prime minister told ultra-Orthodox politicians that the Lag BaOmer celebrations could take place with few limitations. 12At this year's celebrations, police had deployed 5,000 extra forces to maintain order. A police spokesman said the crowd on Mount Meron this year was similar to previous years. But some bonfires were divided into smaller areas as a COVID-19 safety measure. 13Israeli media suggested that may have created narrow pathways at the celebrations. Last year, observances on Mount Meron were limited and private bonfires were not permitted because of pandemic restrictions. 14The Justice Ministry said police were launching an investigation into possible wrongdoing by officers. 15I'm Bryan Lynn. 16Hai Do adapted this Associated Press report for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter Jr. was the editor. 17____________________________________________________ 18Words in This Story 19stampede -n. when a large group of people (or animals) is frightened or excited and move in a dangerous and uncontrolled way 20slippery -adj. difficult to stand on, move on or hold because it is smooth, wet or icy 21befall -v. to happen to 22immense -adj. very great in size or amount