Israel stampede was disaster waiting to happen: More than 100,000 crammed into site despite reports from 2008 and 2011 warning it posed danger to human life and capacity shouldn t exceed 15,000 - as Orthodox community lays victims to rest
Ex-comptroller Micha Lindenstrauss, who wrote a report from 13 years ago, warned of dangers to human life
A separate report two years later, in 2011, also said: The existing situation must be immediately changed
First victims of Israeli festival crush identified as funerals got underway in keeping with Orthodox tradition
Among dead include singer from Canada, a nine-year-old boy and his brother, two Americans and father-of-11
In total, 45 people were killed and 150 were wounded, some critically, during Lag B Omer at Mount Meron
At least 45 killed after stampede at religious gathering in Israel; several Americans among the dead msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Religious festival stampede in Israel kills 44, hurts dozens
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JERUSALEM – A stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in northern Israel killed at least 44 people and injured about 150 early Friday, medical officials said. It was one of the country’s deadliest civilian disasters.
The stampede began when large numbers of people trying to exit the site thronged a narrow tunnel-like passage, according to witnesses and video footage. People began falling on top of each other near the end of the walkway, as they descended slippery metal stairs, witnesses said.
“Masses of people were pushed into the same corner and a vortex was created,” a man identified only by his first name Dvir, told Israel Army Radio. He described a terrifying sight as the first row of people fell down. He said he was in the next row of people that tripped.