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April 30, 2021 - A very crowded grandstand collapsed during a Jewish mass rally on Mount Meron in Galilee.

Dozens of ambulances try to reach the wounded, making their way through a crowd of Orthodox Jews estimated at almost 100,000 people, who have flocked to the Jewish celebration of Lagba-Omer.



🇮🇱 - INITIAL REPORT: Several injured after a Metal section reportedly collapsed in Meron during Lag Baomer celebrations.

Several seriously injured.

Updates to follow.

pic.twitter.com/hnIFtG3cW7

- Belaaz (@TheBelaaz) April 29, 2021




At least 44 dead and 65 injured are dead.

Some people would have slipped from the bleachers dragging other participants with them and triggering a mass escape in which dozens were crushed.

First unconfirmed information spoke of a structural failure.

The Jewish holiday of Lag Ba'omer was celebrated at the tomb of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.



BREAKING: At least 15 dead and dozens more wounded including critically after a tribune collapsed during a festival in the northern Israeli city of #Meron pic.twitter.com/1Kbk2AJC21

- News_Executive (@News_Executive) April 29, 2021



Military helicopters also participate in the rescue.


Tens of thousands of people took part in the night between Thursday and Friday in an annual pilgrimage to northern Israel for the largest public event in the country since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.   



Israel: Clip, Toldos Aharon Rebbe lights Hadluka in Meron, tens of thousands attending pic.twitter.com/Fwqp2JdOzf

- Yiddish News (@YiddishNews) April 29, 2021



The pilgrimage, on the occasion of the Jewish holiday of Lag Baomer, takes place in Meron, around the alleged tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd century Christian-era Talmudist to whom he is credited with writing the Zohar, a central work of Jewish mysticism. The authorities had allowed the presence of 10,000 people in the grave enclosure but, according to organizers, more than 650 buses were rented across the country, that is at least 30,000 people, while the local press reported the presence of 100,000 people. After midnight the bleachers suddenly collapsed, causing panic scenes.