Watch: 717 killed in Haj stampede, worst tragedy in 25 years

Rescue operations were under way, the service said on Twitter, after the stampede in Mina near the holy city of Makkah.

By Agencies

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Death toll in Saudi Arabia Haj stampede rises to 220
Death toll in Saudi Arabia Haj stampede rises to 220

Published: Thu 24 Sep 2015, 12:34 PM

Last updated: Fri 22 Mar 2024, 8:32 AM

At least 717 people were killed on Thursday in a stampede during the annual Haj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia's civil defence service said, as the death toll from the tragedy continued to rise.

Toll free number for pilgrims in the Kingdom: 0096 8002477786


Helpline nos: 0096 6125 458 000 and 0096 6125 496 000

"The counting (of the victims) continues and the number of dead has reached 310 people of different nationalities," it earlier said on Twitter after the incident in Mina which also left hundreds injured.


The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometres from the holy city of Makkah. Mina houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

Rescue operations were under way, the service said on Twitter, after the stampede in Mina near the holy city of Makkah, where hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the Haj.

Some 2 million people are taking part in this year's Haj pilgrimage, which began on Tuesday.

The stampede was the deadliest disaster at the Haj since 2006, when more than 360 pilgrims were killed in a stampede in the same area.

Mina is where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls.

Thursday's stampede happened less than two weeks after a giant construction crane came crashing down on the Grand Mosque in holy city of Makkah, the focal point of the Haj. That accident killed at least 111 people and injured more than 390.


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