BBC News
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image captionThose at the scene described how they were swept along in the crush
People at the scene of a crush at a religious festival in Israel have told of how they were swept along by the crowd, while others were thrown up in the air .
At least 44 people have been killed and dozens more injured at the Lag B Omer festival at the foot of Mount Meron.
It is not yet clear what caused the crush - police sources told Haaretz newspaper it started after some attendees slipped on steps, causing others to fall.
Tens of thousands of pilgrims were at the event.
Medics work to identify the 45 killed in Israeli stampede
By Rami Amichay, Dan Williams and Ari Rabinovitch
Reuters
MOUNT MERON, Israel (Reuters) -Medical teams worked on Friday to identify 45 people crushed to death in a stampede at a religious festival on the slopes of Israel s Mount Meron, with children among the dead.
Witnesses spoke of seeing a pyramid of people who were asphyxiated or trampled in a passageway around 3 metres (10 feet) wide at the crowded event in the Galilee.
Tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews had thronged to the tomb of 2nd-century sage Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai for the annual Lag B Omer commemorations that include all-night prayer, mystical songs and dance.
Israel PM vows to investigate terrible crush
Israel s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised to investigate a crush at a crowded religious festival that left dozens of people dead.
During a visit to the scene near Mount Meron on Friday, he said the serious investigation would ensure this kind of disaster never happens again .
At least 45 people were killed and 150 were injured at the all-night Lag B Omer festival, which attracted tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews.
It is unclear what triggered the crush. There were heart-breaking scenes here. People who were crushed to death, including children, Mr Netanyahu told reporters at the scene.