Emergency and security services are working to save the injured and identify the deceased.
At least 45 people were killed on Thursday night after a stampede broke out as massive crowds gathered at the Mount Meron religious bonfire-lighting ceremony for the holiday of Lag Ba'Omer, in what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a "grave disaster."
Approximately 90,000 - mostly ultra-Orthodox Jews - had thronged to the Mount Meron tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai for annual Lag Ba'omer commemorations that include all-night prayer, mystical songs and dance. The stampede began near the bonfire of the Toldot Aharon hassidic sect, which is based in Jerusalem.
An investigation has been opened Israel Police into the cause of the accident.
We are all hurt with the lose of so many lives and we send full recovery to these in hospital. What a tragedy on such a happy day !
From an article in the Jerusalem Post
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