At least 717 people lost their lives and 863 sustained injuries in a stampede that occurred on the third day of the annual Muslim haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The tragedy took place in Mina some five kilometers away from Mecca during a ritual known as "stoning the devil" when Muslims throw stones at a rock, symbolically rejecting evil.
#منى pic.twitter.com/Q2jW3mSFYw
— hicham messaoudi (@prohicham) 24 сентября 2015
Rescue operations are underway.
أنتم ضيوف الرحمن خدمتكم شرف لنا، وسلامتكم أسمى غاياتنا. جانب من جهود رجال الدفاع المدني في #مزدلفة. pic.twitter.com/k7dGcfYU6y
— الدفاع المدني (@KSA_998) 24 сентября 2015
Shocking news from Mina, More than 220 Hajis have been martyred, Ya Allah have mercy #تدافع_مشعر_مني #Mecca pic.twitter.com/z3thHk2wxJ
— Farhan Khan Virk (@FarhanKVirk) 24 сентября 2015
Rescue workers at the scene of Saudi stampede outside Mecca: 100 deaths and almost 400 injured — via @KSA_998 pic.twitter.com/HEOgzU5kdI
— Julia Macfarlane (@juliamacfarlane) 24 сентября 2015
Over 150 #Hajj pilgrims martyred in #Mina stampede says Civil Defence #SaudiArabia #Mecca #Makkah #Hajj2015 #Hajj1436 pic.twitter.com/VESFT5eIXd
— SherY — (@sherytheketchup) 24 сентября 2015
صور خاصة من فريق #الإخبارية لحادثة التدافع في #منى #الحج #تدافع_مشعر_مني pic.twitter.com/KiWub6TRA7
— قناة الإخبارية (@alekhbariyatv) 24 сентября 2015
Over two million people visit Mecca annually to perform haj, which is an obligation upon every Muslim.
“@alrage77: الله يقدر ويلطف يارب بعض ماحصل في منى pic.twitter.com/Xn9Y8jU7oG @1ksanews1”
— موجز الأخبار (@1ksanews1) 24 сентября 2015
Emergency declared in all the hospitals of #Mecca in response to the tragic accitend at #Mina. pic.twitter.com/lRwjx7aPUP
— Raja Hassan Jamil (@RajaHassanJamil) 24 сентября 2015
Mecca has suffered several similar stampede accidents. On July 2, 1990, a crush inside a tunnel from Mecca to Mina claimed the lives of 1,426 pilgrims, remaining the most violent incident to date. The latest major stampede occurred in 2006 killing at least 346 and injuring 289 people.
Some 4,000 rescuers and over 220 ambulances were sent to handle the tragedy.
Deeply saddened to learn of stampede at Mina resulting in 150 shaheed & 400 injured. May Allah grant the martyrs a place in heaven.1/2
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) 24 сентября 2015
2/2 Praying for the injured in Mina stampede and for the safe return of all the Hajis.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) 24 сентября 2015
On September 11, a construction crane fell on the Grand Mosque in Mecca killing 107 people.
