At least 700 people have been killed in a stampede while taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage in the Holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
Another 863 (at the time of writing) were injured in the incident which took place at Mina.The crush happened when a surge of pilgrims heading to the site arrived at a crossroads at the same time.
Death toll in #Mecca Hajj stampede rises to 717, with 805 others injured pic.twitter.com/wh6TsebyGi
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) September 24, 2015
Earlier this month a crane collapsed at Mecca, killing 109 people. Today’s incident is the deadliest to occur during Hajj for 25 years. in 1990 1426 were crushed in a tunnel near Mecca, both tragedys happened on the festival of Eid al-Adha (the festival of the sacrifice) which is Islams most important feast day and the day of the stoning ritual.
Am devastated by news of deaths in #Mecca All those people that have waited for lifetime to make this Holy Pilgrimage. Praying for relatives
— Shekhar Kapur (@shekharkapur) September 24, 2015
According to a civil defence spokesman, the injured have been evacuated to four different hospitals in the region.
Mina is a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, where pilgrims travel to during the Hajj to throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil and are believed to stand in the three spots where Satan tempted the Prophet Abraham.
PHOTO GALLERY: Hundreds dead and injured in stampede at #Hajj ritual – #Mecca, Saudi Arabia http://t.co/vJAKHWBR64 pic.twitter.com/ikKdFTgDVZ
— Ahram Online (@ahramonline) September 24, 2015
