This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/mecca-crane-tragedy-at-least-65-dead-after-crane-collapses-in-grand-mosque-10497335.html
The article has changed 10 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Mecca crane tragedy: At least 107 dead after crane collapses in Grand Mosque | Mecca crane tragedy: At least 107 dead after crane collapses in Grand Mosque |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| At least 107 people have died and at least 230 more were injured when a huge crane toppled over in Mecca and crashed through a roof at one of Islam’s most holy sites. | At least 107 people have died and at least 230 more were injured when a huge crane toppled over in Mecca and crashed through a roof at one of Islam’s most holy sites. |
| Storms were lashing the Saudi city of Mecca when strong winds brought down the crane that was part of construction works intended to make the Grand Mosque safer for Haj pilgrims. | Storms were lashing the Saudi city of Mecca when strong winds brought down the crane that was part of construction works intended to make the Grand Mosque safer for Haj pilgrims. |
| Tons of rubble and debris crashed to the ground on top of scores of people gathering in the mosque for 6.30 prayers when a section of the crane crashed through the roof. | Tons of rubble and debris crashed to the ground on top of scores of people gathering in the mosque for 6.30 prayers when a section of the crane crashed through the roof. |
| In footage released on to social media last night the crane can be seen toppling towards a three-storey section of the mosque complex, before smashing into the roof. | In footage released on to social media last night the crane can be seen toppling towards a three-storey section of the mosque complex, before smashing into the roof. |
| Construction cranes surround the mosque in an image taken from January (Reuters) | Construction cranes surround the mosque in an image taken from January (Reuters) |
| Other footage showed bodies and blood amid the rubble, while dazed and bloodied survivors staggering past debris in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. | Other footage showed bodies and blood amid the rubble, while dazed and bloodied survivors staggering past debris in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. |
| The Grand Mosque, the Masjid al-Haram, contains the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped building which Muslims face when they pray wherever they are in the world and is Islam’s most sacred shrine. | The Grand Mosque, the Masjid al-Haram, contains the Kaaba, the black cube-shaped building which Muslims face when they pray wherever they are in the world and is Islam’s most sacred shrine. |
| Muslims are expected to perform pilgrimages to the Kaaba at least once during their lifetimes and once there they walk around it seven times anti-clockwise in a rite known as Tawaf. | Muslims are expected to perform pilgrimages to the Kaaba at least once during their lifetimes and once there they walk around it seven times anti-clockwise in a rite known as Tawaf. |
| The accident took place as the Grand Mosque prepared to welcome the millions of pilgrims who will gather there later this month for Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Millions go each year. | The accident took place as the Grand Mosque prepared to welcome the millions of pilgrims who will gather there later this month for Islam's annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. Millions go each year. |
| The nationalities of those caught up in the disaster were uncertain last night and the Foreign Office was making inquiries to establish if any Britons had been killed or injured. Thousands of Britons are already in Mecca or are heading there for the Hajj. | The nationalities of those caught up in the disaster were uncertain last night and the Foreign Office was making inquiries to establish if any Britons had been killed or injured. Thousands of Britons are already in Mecca or are heading there for the Hajj. |
| Civil Defense personnel inspect the damage at the Grand Mosque in Mecca after a crane collapsed killing dozens, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 (AP) | Civil Defense personnel inspect the damage at the Grand Mosque in Mecca after a crane collapsed killing dozens, Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 (AP) |
| Sympathy and tributes were offered by people from around the world last night and the Muslim Council of Britain tweeted: “1000s of British people are undertaking #Hajj and we hope they are safe tonight as tragedy in #Makkah unfolds. Prayers for all the victims.” | Sympathy and tributes were offered by people from around the world last night and the Muslim Council of Britain tweeted: “1000s of British people are undertaking #Hajj and we hope they are safe tonight as tragedy in #Makkah unfolds. Prayers for all the victims.” |
| Omer El-Hamdoon, President of the Muslim Association of Britain, said: “Our prayers are directed to those who have died that God shower them with His mercy. Our thoughts are with the families and friends, at this difficult time, whilst waiting for news. As we pray to God that He gives full and speedy recovery to all those injured.” | Omer El-Hamdoon, President of the Muslim Association of Britain, said: “Our prayers are directed to those who have died that God shower them with His mercy. Our thoughts are with the families and friends, at this difficult time, whilst waiting for news. As we pray to God that He gives full and speedy recovery to all those injured.” |
| Imran Khan, the Pakistani politician and former cricketer, tweeted: “Saddened to learn of the death of pilgrims as a result of the crane accident in Haram Sharif. Condolences & prayers go to families of victims.” | Imran Khan, the Pakistani politician and former cricketer, tweeted: “Saddened to learn of the death of pilgrims as a result of the crane accident in Haram Sharif. Condolences & prayers go to families of victims.” |
| The Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "I'm shocked and saddened to hear of the accident in Mecca involving a large number of fatalities amongst those attending the Hajj. My thoughts are with the families of those affected." | |
| Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence authority put the death toll last night at 107 and said a further 230 people had been hurt. Several are believed to be critically ill. "All those who were wounded and the dead have been taken to hospital," General Suleiman al-Amr, director general of the Civil Defence Authority, said. | |
| The crane struck a third floor area on the eastern side of the Grand Mosque around 5.45pm, while the building was packed with the 6.30pm Friday prayers approaching. The crane’s arm crashed into the top edge of the building and, crumpling under its own weight, the top section smashed down into the roof. | The crane struck a third floor area on the eastern side of the Grand Mosque around 5.45pm, while the building was packed with the 6.30pm Friday prayers approaching. The crane’s arm crashed into the top edge of the building and, crumpling under its own weight, the top section smashed down into the roof. |
| Parts of the Grand Mosque complex are being developed and rebuilt amid plans to increase capacity and to make the pilgrimage safe. In the past, hajj at Mecca has been the scene of tragedies including stampedes which left many pilgrims dead - in 2006 several hundred people died in a stampede. | Parts of the Grand Mosque complex are being developed and rebuilt amid plans to increase capacity and to make the pilgrimage safe. In the past, hajj at Mecca has been the scene of tragedies including stampedes which left many pilgrims dead - in 2006 several hundred people died in a stampede. |
| The huge complex covers more than 88 acres and includes indoor and outdoor prayer areas. It is open 24-hours a day. | The huge complex covers more than 88 acres and includes indoor and outdoor prayer areas. It is open 24-hours a day. |
| In July, King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced a further five projects to increase the capacity of the complex, including more tunnels and squares. | In July, King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced a further five projects to increase the capacity of the complex, including more tunnels and squares. |
| The project to expand Mecca’s Grand Mosque was launched in 2011 by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and construction costs are estimated at more than $60 billion. The project is being carried out by the Saudi Binladin Group, owned by Osama Bin Laden’s family. | The project to expand Mecca’s Grand Mosque was launched in 2011 by the late King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and construction costs are estimated at more than $60 billion. The project is being carried out by the Saudi Binladin Group, owned by Osama Bin Laden’s family. |
| Eventually the development is expected to double the area around the Kaaba for pilgrims, enabling the number who take part to rise from three million annually to seven million by 2040. | Eventually the development is expected to double the area around the Kaaba for pilgrims, enabling the number who take part to rise from three million annually to seven million by 2040. |
| Security services often ring Islam's sacred city with checkpoints and other measures to prevent people arriving for the pilgrimage without authorization, and last year the number of pilgrims was restricted as a safety measure because of the construction work. | Security services often ring Islam's sacred city with checkpoints and other measures to prevent people arriving for the pilgrimage without authorization, and last year the number of pilgrims was restricted as a safety measure because of the construction work. |
| Al Jazeera's Hasan Patel was at the Grand Mosque yesterday and said: "This whole place is already a construction site. What made it worse is that around 5.30pm there was severe rain and it's just gushing down the road. I am surrounded by people who are grieving. The mood here is of sadness." | Al Jazeera's Hasan Patel was at the Grand Mosque yesterday and said: "This whole place is already a construction site. What made it worse is that around 5.30pm there was severe rain and it's just gushing down the road. I am surrounded by people who are grieving. The mood here is of sadness." |