At around 3 a.m. local time on the 30th, about 100,000 people took part in a religious celebration in Mount Meron in northern Israel. A serious stampede took place at a subsequent live prayer and cabaret concert. At present, as many as 44 people have died, 103 injured, 91 people are being treated in hospitals and 44 are in critical condition.
The Israeli government has sent military and police to block traffic and rescue operations in and around Mount Meron. Initial police investigations revealed that some people slipped on the steps due to heavy traffic at the scene, causing panic stampedes. Police said they had arrested two people on suspicion of obstructing police in maintaining order at the scene.
Located more than 200 kilometers north of Jerusalem, Mount Meron is one of the sites of the Jewish pilgrimage. Last year, the commemoration was canceled due to coronavirus outbreak, and this year, as coronavirus outbreak in Israel improved, the commemoration was reopened.
