VOA慢速英语2021--以色列宗教节发生踩踏事故造成至少45人丧生

A crowd of people was involved in a stampede at a Jewish religious celebration in northern Israel killing¹ at least 45 people Friday. About 150 people were injured.

Tens of thousands of conservative Jews, known as ultra-Orthodox Jews, attended the event. Officials said the incident was one of the country's deadliest civilian² disasters.

Witnesses said the stampede began when large numbers of people tried to go through a narrow path during the event. A video shows people falling on top of each other near the end of a path as they walked down slippery metal steps.

One of the injured people, Avraham Leibe, told Israeli public broadcaster Kan that the crowd could not stop from falling down the steps. He said, "I saw one after the other fall."

The stampede happened during the celebrations of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron. It was the first mass religious gathering³ to be held legally since Israel lifted the country's coronavirus restrictions⁴.

Lag BaOmer draws tens of thousands of people. Most of them are ultra-Orthodox Jews. They come each year to honor Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, a religious leader who lived about 1,800 years ago and is believed to be buried there. The crowds traditionally light fires, pray and dance as part of the celebrations.

This year, an estimated 100,000 people attended the event. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Mount Meron on Friday. He said it was "one of the worst disasters that has befallen the state of Israel." He announced Sunday would be a day of national mourning.

Health and rescue officials said at least 45 people were killed in Friday's stampede. Later in the day, officials were still trying to identify some of the victims and contact families with missing relatives.

Zaki Heller, a spokesman for the rescue service, confirmed that 150 people had been hurt in the stampede, with six hospitalized in very serious condition. He told Israel Army Radio, "in one moment, we went from a happy event to an immense tragedy."

The deadly stampede could also affect the uncertain political situation in Israel.

Netanyahu has so far been unsuccessful in forming a governing coalition⁵. He needs the continued support of ultra-Orthodox political parties. Over the objections of health officials, the prime minister told ultra-Orthodox politicians that the Lag BaOmer celebrations could take place with few limitations.

At this year's celebrations, police had deployed⁶ 5,000 extra forces to maintain order. A police spokesman said the crowd on Mount Meron this year was similar to previous years. But some bonfires were divided into smaller areas as a COVID-19 safety measure.

Israeli media suggested that may have created narrow pathways at the celebrations. Last year, observances on Mount Meron were limited and private bonfires were not permitted because of pandemic restrictions.

The Justice Ministry⁷ said police were launching an investigation⁸ into possible wrongdoing by officers.

Words in This Story

stampede –n. when a large group of people (or animals) is frightened or excited and move in a dangerous and uncontrolled way

slippery –adj. difficult to stand on, move on or hold because it is smooth, wet or icy

befall –v. to happen to

immense –adj. very great in size or amount

1 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

2 civilian   

adj.平民的，民用的，民众的

参考例句：

• There is no reliable information about civilian casualties.关于平民的伤亡还没有确凿的信息。
• He resigned his commission to take up a civilian job.他辞去军职而从事平民工作。

3 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

4 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

5 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

6 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

7 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

8 investigation   

n.调查，调查研究

参考例句：

• In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
• He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。