In a tragic incident, at least 44 people were crushed to death, and over 100 people suffered injuries in a stampede at a mass gathering in northern Israel on Thursday.
Many people are said to be in critical condition after this unexpected event happened at the mass gathering as they assembled to celebrate the Lag B’Omer holiday at Mount Meron.
As per the local reports, the terrible incident turned out to be one of the worst peacetime tragedies in the history of Israel, equaling the death toll from the 2010 Mount Carmel forest fire.
Most of the deceased were said to be from the Toldot Aharon hassidic sect, based in Jerusalem. The Health Ministry confirmed that the total death toll was 44. The cause of the incident has not been found out yet. Israel Police have opened an investigation into the cause of the accident.