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| A pilgrim reacts with grief near the site of the stampede in Mina. (Essa Al-Dobisi/Al Arabiya) |
Saudi Arabia’s civil defense has said at least 717 pilgrims died and 863 others were injured on Thursday when a stampede broke out in the tent city of Mina as pilgrims were on their way to perform a Hajj ritual.
The stampede began during a morning surge of pilgrims at an intersection between Streets 204 and 223, as the faithful were making their way toward a large structure overlooking the columns, according to the civil defense directorate.
The tragedy was the deadliest to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage since 1990, where 1,426 Muslim pilgrims were trampled to death.
The multi-story structure, known as Jamarat Bridge, is designed to ease the pressure of the crowds and prevent pilgrims from being trampled.
In a swift reaction, Saud King Salman on Thursday in a televised speech offered his condolences and said he has ordered a review of the country’s pilgrimage plan.
The king also said he had requested a swift investigation into what he described as a painful incident where at least 863 others were injured in the crush at a crossroad on Street 204 at the camp city in Mina, a few kilometers east of Makkah.
At a press conference before sunset prayers, Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told reporters that the street at which the stampede took place “witnessed unprecedented high number of pilgrims” compared to previous years.
Turki said the investigation would look into what caused an unusual density of pilgrims to congregate at the location of the disaster. “The reason for that is not known yet,” he told a news conference in Mina.
Meanwhile, the White House on Thursday offered condolences after a “heartbreaking” stampede.
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