Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his condolences to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in connection with the tragedy that occurred during a religious holiday in the area of Mount Meron. This was announced on Friday, April 30, by the Kremlin press service.
“Russia shares the grief of the friendly people of Israel,” the Russian leader said in a telegram.
Putin conveyed words of support to the relatives of the victims, and also wished a speedy recovery to all the victims.
The collapse of the tribune during the celebration of the holiday Lag ba-Omer in the area of Mount Meron, which is located in northern Israel, became known earlier that day. Authorities later said that the incident occurred when crowds of people poured into the gated complex, during which there was a crush and dozens of those present were pushed to the fences.
As a result, at least 44 people died, local media report 150 injured.
Netanyahu called the incident a “grave disaster.” Israeli law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the incident.
This holiday was the first mass event in the country after the lifting of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic. It was attended by up to 100 thousand people.
Lag ba-Omer is celebrated on the 18th of the month of Iyar according to the Jewish lunar calendar, which in 2021 fell on the period from sunset on April 29 to late April 30 in the evening. The holiday is established in memory of the end of the epidemic, from which several thousand students of the Jewish theologian Akiva, who lived at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, died. e. During this celebration, bonfires are traditionally burned.