Stampede Kills At Least 700 At Hajj Pilgrimage

A stampede during the annual hajj pilgrimage resulted to the death of over 700 individuals and injury to at least 850 individuals. The incident was the deadliest to happen in the event in over twenty years. It also comes within two weeks after over 100 pilgrims were killed after the collapse of a crane at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

The civil defense directorate of Saudi Arabia said the incident occurred three miles from Mecca. It also tweeted images showing injured pilgrims given assistance by rescuers. The directorate also revealed that people from different countries were among the victims.

Rescue teams were sent to Mina, where the stampede happened, and guided pilgrims to safety. The directorate also said rescue operations were continuing. Around 4,000 rescue workers along with 220 ambulances were involved in the rescue operations, officials revealed.

King Salman expressed his condolences and said a quick investigation will be conducted. All plans and arrangements will be reviewed in order to enhance the organization and movement of pilgrims during the hajj.

The incident is the latest tragedy to hit the hajj, which brings in immense crowds every year. Over 1,400 pilgrims died due to suffocation or trampling on their way to Mecca in an air-conditioned pedestrian tunnel. The latest death toll is higher than the death toll in a 2006 stampede that killed around 350 people.

Stampede Kills At Least 700 At Hajj Pilgrimage
- image credit: en.wikipedia.org

The collapse of a crane on September 11 at the Grand Mosque in Mecca resulted to the death of 111 people. Around 400 people were also injured due to the incident. Mina is a valley where the "stoning of the devil" is held. Tents are used as sleeping areas for pilgrims during the hajj while they are in Mina. The rite, which is the final rite during the pilgrimage, drew hundreds of thousands of pilgrims who throw pebbles at three stone pillars that symbolize the devil.

Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, spokesman for the Saudi Interior Ministry, said an extraordinarily large number of pilgrims was noted on a street. He said pilgrims were allowed to go through pathways leading to the Jamaraat Bridge before other people left the area. The tragedy was blamed on "undisciplined pilgrims" by the health minister of Saudi Arabia.

However, Iran blamed security in Saudi Arabia for the incident. The head of the Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization of Iran, Saeed Ohadi, said the stampede killed 47 Iranians. John Kirby, a spokesman for the US State Department, said the United States was saddened by the incident and they are praying for the families of the injured and deceased.

Around two million people arrived for the hajj pilgrimage this year. The Eid al-Adha is being celebrated by Muslims around the world. It is one of the two most important Islamic holidays.

Following the incident in 2006, safety measures were enhanced by Saudi officials. The 2006 incident followed the collapse of an eight-storey building that resulted to the death of at least 73 people. The pillars and the Jamaraat Bridge were rebuilt after the 2006 stampede. Access into the columns will be easier with the wider multi-level bridge. The hajj is required for all able-bodied Muslims who are financially-capable of making the pilgrimage.

Posted by James Fried on Friday September 25 2015, 9:42 AM EDT. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under World. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0