Maccabiah Bridge Collapse
Jonathan Drago, Annette Englehart, Matthew Parks, Brandon Wagner
Phil 251
Professor Wilson
15 January 2013
Maccabiah Bridge Collapse
Recap The Maccabiah bridge collapse occurred on July 14, 1997. This tragedy happened in Israel. It took place in the town of Aviv. The bridge collapsed over a large river called the Yarkon River. The bridge was constructed primarily of wood material. Also, some of the bridge was assembled of rusty metal pipes that were tied together with wire. The bridge was designed for the Maccabiah Games. The Maccabiah Games was first started in 1932. It was an athletic event held to celebrate the Zionist Revolution. The games are open to all Israeli citizens and many people from all over the world. The fifteenth Maccabiah Games occurred in 1997 (“The Maccabiah Games History and Information”). During this sporting event there were many participating athletes. There were over five thousand athletes from fifty-six nations. The Maccabiah Bridge was built for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony took place at Ramat Gan Stadium. This stadium fit around fifty thousand people. The bridge was constructed so that the athletes could march over it and into the stadium for the opening ceremony. During the opening ceremony, the athletes and their team members crossed the bridge. When the Australians started to cross the bridge, it collapsed into the Yarkon River (“Maccabiah Games History and Information”). Of the three hundred and thirty-seven members of the Australian team, roughly a hundred of the members plummeted into the Yarkon River below. Sixty-seven of the injured were taken to the hospital. Some of the injured died from Pseudallascheria boydii fungus days and weeks after falling into the river. This was caused from being in extreme contact with the infected water. One victim out of the sixty-seven injured, was killed before arriving at the hospital. In all, there were four killed from the collapsing of the Maccabiah
Phil 251
Professor Wilson
15 January 2013
Maccabiah Bridge Collapse
Recap The Maccabiah bridge collapse occurred on July 14, 1997. This tragedy happened in Israel. It took place in the town of Aviv. The bridge collapsed over a large river called the Yarkon River. The bridge was constructed primarily of wood material. Also, some of the bridge was assembled of rusty metal pipes that were tied together with wire. The bridge was designed for the Maccabiah Games. The Maccabiah Games was first started in 1932. It was an athletic event held to celebrate the Zionist Revolution. The games are open to all Israeli citizens and many people from all over the world. The fifteenth Maccabiah Games occurred in 1997 (“The Maccabiah Games History and Information”). During this sporting event there were many participating athletes. There were over five thousand athletes from fifty-six nations. The Maccabiah Bridge was built for the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony took place at Ramat Gan Stadium. This stadium fit around fifty thousand people. The bridge was constructed so that the athletes could march over it and into the stadium for the opening ceremony. During the opening ceremony, the athletes and their team members crossed the bridge. When the Australians started to cross the bridge, it collapsed into the Yarkon River (“Maccabiah Games History and Information”). Of the three hundred and thirty-seven members of the Australian team, roughly a hundred of the members plummeted into the Yarkon River below. Sixty-seven of the injured were taken to the hospital. Some of the injured died from Pseudallascheria boydii fungus days and weeks after falling into the river. This was caused from being in extreme contact with the infected water. One victim out of the sixty-seven injured, was killed before arriving at the hospital. In all, there were four killed from the collapsing of the Maccabiah