ISRAEL: Dozens of people have been killed in a stampede at a religious festival in Israel, reports have said.

Israel’s officials confirmed the deaths without giving exact numbers.

Reports said dozens more had been wounded.

Newspaper Haaretz has reported at least 44 people have been killed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu termed it as a “heavy disaster”, and said he was praying for the casualties, BBC reported.

The Lag B’Omer festival at the foot of Mount Meron is the largest event held in the country since the coronavirus pandemic began, with tens of thousands reportedly attending, according to BBC.

Dozens of ambulances are at the scene and emergency services have laid out bodies under foil covers on the ground, the report added.

(With inputs from BBC)