Jerusalem Post: “About 103 people were injured and at least 44 were killed amid a stampede and massive crowds at Mount Meron as about one hundred thousand people celebrated the festival of Lag Ba’omer at the site in northern Israel on Thursday night. Some 44 people were in critical condition, with dozens of ambulances and six helicopters called to the scene to evacuate the injured, according to Magen David Adom. A field hospital was set up at the scene. Israel Police and IDF soldiers worked to evacuate the injured and clear the crowds from the scene.”
“Phone service at the scene crashed as thousands attempted to contact family members and emergency services. An investigation has been opened by Israel Police into the incident. ‘Difficult sights, people crushed without being able to escape. Some of the wounded are still being treated at the scene,’ said MDA spokesman Zaki Heller, according to Maariv, The Jerusalem Post’s sister publication. Shortly after the incident, Israel Police closed traffic into the area and began evacuating visitors from the site. The IDF announced that it had sent soldiers from the rescue brigade and Israel Air Force helicopters to help at the scene.”