Around 44 people have been killed in a crush at a crowded religious festival called Lag B’Omer festival at the foot of Mount Meron in the northeast of Israel.

“What is the Lag B’Omer festival?

Tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews make a pilgrimage to Meron each year for Lag B’Omer, a religious holiday marked with all-night bonfires, prayer and dancing.

The town is the site of the tomb of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a revered second-century sage, who ordained that the anniversary of his death be commemorated with a rejoicing of his life.

According to the Times of Israel, organisers estimated that 100,000 people arrived on Thursday night, with more due on Friday.

The attendance at the event was higher than it was last year, when the festival was held under restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

But it was still smaller than in previous years when hundreds of thousands of people gathered at the site.” BBC

Police sources stated that it started after some peoples slipped on steps, which caused dozens more to fall and injured.