Ambulances Arrive in Meron after Deadly Stampede

Several ambulances and police officers were seen evacuating and treating dozens of injured people in Meron, on Thursday night, after at least 44 people were killed at a crowded religious festival during a stampede, which left dozens wounded. A helicopter was also seen arriving at the site, while authorities were investigating the incident with witnesses. During the stampede, which involved a structure collapsing at the festival, several people slipped, causing dozens more to fall as a consequence. Authorities evacuated the festival and a field hospital was set-up on site, while dozens of ambulances and six helicopter evacuated the injured. The incident took place as tens of thousands of primarily ultra-Orthodox Jews participated in the annual event, around the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a 2nd-century Tannaitic sage. The festival was the largest event taking place in the country since the beginning of the pandemic. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident a 'heavy disaster.'