KATASTROPHEN
Dutzende werden nach Religionsfest in Israel erdrückt
April 30, 2021 -
Mindestens 44 Personen wurden zu Tode erdrückt und über 150 nach dem Lag Ba'Omer Fest verletzt, das jährlich am Fuß des Berges Meron im Norden Israels gefeiert wird.
The Stampede occurred after some revellers slip on steps, causing dozens more to fall, police sources told Haaretz newspaper.
The crush happened 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 ultra-Orthodox Jews, each year to honour Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd century sage and mystic who is believed to be buried there. Large crowds traditionally light bonfires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations.
This year, media estimated the crowd at about 100,000 people.