U.S. citizens were among those killed in Israeli festival disaster

[May 01, 2021]    JERUSALEM (Reuters) -A number of U.S. citizens are among the dozens killed or injured in a stampede at a Jewish religious festival in Israel, a U.S. Embassy spokesperson said on Saturday.

Ultra Orthodox Jews look at stairs with waste on it in Mount Meron, northern Israel, where fatalities were reported among the thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at the tomb of a 2nd-century sage for annual commemorations that include all-night prayer and dance, April 30, 2021. REUTERS/ Ronen Zvulun

At least 45 people were crushed to death and more than 100 injured in the disaster on the slopes of Israel's Mount Meron, which occurred overnight between Thursday and Friday.

"We can confirm that multiple U.S. citizens were among the casualties," the spokesperson said, and casualties included both dead and injured.

"The U.S. Embassy is working with local authorities to verify whether any additional U.S. citizens were affected, and is providing all possible consular support to affected U.S. citizens and their loved ones. Out of respect for the families at this difficult time, we have no further comment."

The Israeli Foreign Ministry said on Friday that consulate officials in New York were in contact with four families of victims and the embassy in Argentina was in contact with one family.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday that he had learned of the death of two Canadians in the disaster.

The Israeli Health Ministry said 32 of the dead had been identified by late Friday. The identification process paused for 24 hours in observance of the Jewish Sabbath and would resume on Saturday evening.

More than 20 of the people injured were still hospitalized by Friday night.

(Reporting by Maayan LubellEditing by Alex Richardson and Frances Kerry)

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