2 dead, over 150 injured in structure collapse at Synagogue in Givat Ze'ev

Description

Bleachers collapsed in a Hasidic synagogue in Givat Ze'ev on Sunday afternoon, killing two and injuring at least 213 people. A 12-year-old boy was among the two who succumbed to their wounds after the event, the other being a 40-year-old man. Shaare Zedek Medical Center was treating 102 congregants, seven of which are in serious condition, with the rest in light to moderate condition, according to Ynet. Hadassah Medical Center at Mt. Scopus was stated to be treating 51 patients, two of which are in serious condition, 10 in moderate condition and those remaining in light condition. Hadassah Ein Kerem is treating the remaining 60 patients, six of which are in serious condition, eight in moderate condition and the rest in light condition. MDA services reportedly supplied hospitals in the Jerusalem region with 237 doses of blood or plasma in response to the massive influx of patients. In a video published by Israeli media, dozens of people can be seen falling to the ground as the top layer collapses. Homefront Command soldiers, military evacuation teams and soldiers from the Central Command were called to the scene, the IDF said in a statement. MDA paramedic Moshe Tubolsky said after the incident that "When I arrived there was a big commotion, people shouted and ran everywhere telling me that the bleachers had collapsed with dozens inside the synagogue." "A number of lightly wounded people were near the entrance and civilians led me to a severely wounded man who was lying on the floor nearby, unconscious and suffering from a head injury," he said. He continued, saying that "While other large MDA teams were scanning the scene and providing medical care to other wounded people, I put him in an ambulance, gave him life-saving medical care that included anesthesia and breath support and he was evacuated to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in serious condition." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that he was "praying" for those wounded in the incident. BLAME GAME BEGINS Fire and Rescue services sent an email on Sunday morning to the relevant parties at the Givat Ze'ev local council, clarifying that the planned Shavuot event at the synagogue had not received approval from them due to ongoing construction at the site. Speaking with N12, Jerusalem district police comissioner Doron Turjeman said "Once again we arrive at an event that involves negligence and irresponsible conduct. The station commander informed the head of the council that this structure is forbidden for prayers and large gatherings." He blamed the local council for failing to stop the event, saying "This is a synagogue - a local authority has all the powers required within the law to deal with it. There is a local authority's responsibility here in all aspects of authority." The police published a document on Sunday evening which was sent from the Lev HaBira station in Jerusalem to the head of the council which stated that "the incident is not approved according to safety regulations. The local authority must send inspectors and ensure that the incident does not take place." Givat Ze'ev local Council head Yossi Avrahami told N12 after the incident that "The council appealed to all those who are supposed to deal with these issues - appealed and warned them of this issue. I instructed my people not to approve this incident at any stage." He added that earlier on Sunday afternoon, "we put up roadblocks with signs that say the site here is dangerous. The police told us they were removing responsibility for the incident."