The Tragedy on the Mountain
In the months leading up to the Lag B'Omer celebration, MDA prepared in advance for various scenarios during the event based on experience and accumulated knowledge from securing the event in previous years, field trips, planning the deployment of forces, raising alert in the Yarden region and preparing for the Multi Casualties Incident (MCI).
During the celebration in Meron, MDA throughout the north of the country was on high alert. The many Magen David Adom teams from all over the country who came to Meron in cooperation with dozens of rescue organizations operating under MDA throughout the year, medically secured the hundreds of thousands of celebrants who arrived. The deployment of forces on the ground began the day before (28.4). Magen David Adom, which works in full coordination with the Israel Police, conducted a field exercise on the morning of the event, led by the Israel Police in response to the MCI. In addition to ambulances and intensive care vehicles, MDA placed 2 new ATVs with evacuation capabilities, 2 buses for evacuating casualties, a clinic caravan and a national command vehicle with command and control systems and wired communications. MDA helicopters were also put on standby.
At 00:49, calls began to be received at MDA dispatch centers for injured due to overcrowding and with the receipt of a situation report of dozens of injured, at 01:01 the forces on the ground announced a multi-casualty incident. Dozens of ambulances and intensive care vehicles rushed to the scene to respond to the dozens injured.
The disaster claimed the lives of 45 people and hospitalized more than 150 injured, some in critical condition.
During the event, MDA's blood services provided 257 blood units and its products, and the day after the event, as part of a special blood drive, more than 2,000 blood units were donated.
