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Hajj stampede: At least 453 killed in Saudi Arabia Hajj stampede: At least 717 killed in Saudi Arabia
(about 1 hour later)
At least 453 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia say. At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, officials in Saudi Arabia say.
Another 719 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite. Another 805 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite.
They converge on Mina to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.They converge on Mina to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.
Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca's Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people.Preparations for the Hajj were marred when a crane collapsed at Mecca's Grand Mosque this month, killing 109 people.
The Saudi civil defence directorate said on Twitter that 4,000 personnel had been sent to the scene of Thursday's stampede, along with more than 220 emergency and rescue units. The injured are being taken to four hospitals in the area. 'Sudden surge'
Photos published by the directorate showed rescue workers treating the injured on stretchers and loading them on to ambulances. Mina, a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, is the location of the three Jamarat pillars and also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.
It said the victims were of "different nationalities", without providing details. The Saudi civil defence directorate said in a statement that the stampede occurred on Thursday morning at the junction of Street 204 and Street 223, as pilgrims walked towards the five-story structure which surrounds the pillars, known as the Jamarat Bridge.
BBC Hausa Service correspondent Tchima Illa Issoufou, who was with some of those affected in Mina, said there were many pilgrims from Niger among the dead. The incident happened when there was a "sudden increase" in the number of pilgrims heading towards pillars, the statement said.
The UK Foreign Office said it was in contact with the local authorities and was urgently seeking more information about whether British nationals were involved. This "resulted in a stampede among the pilgrims and the collapse of a large number of them", it added.
The civil defence directorate did not say what caused the stampede. Security personnel and the Saudi Red Crescent were "immediately" deployed to prevent more people heading towards the area, the directorate said.
However, Al Jazeera English's Basma Atassi in Mina reported that it took place among tents erected on Street 204, and not where people were throwing stones at the Jamarat pillars - which are surrounded by a five-storey bridge-like structure.
Hajj: Previous tragediesHajj: Previous tragedies
2006: 364 pilgrims die in a crush during the stone-throwing ritual 2006: 364 pilgrims die in a crush at foot of Jamarat Bridge in Mina
1997: 343 pilgrims killed and 1,500 injured in fire 1997: 340 pilgrims are killed when fire fuelled by high winds sweeps through Mina's tent city
1994: 270 killed in stampede 1994: 270 pilgrims die in a stampede during the stoning ritual
1990: 1,426 pilgrims killed in stampede inside tunnel leading to holy sites 1990: 1,426 pilgrims, mainly Asian, die in a stampede in an overcrowded tunnel leading to holy sites
1987: 400 people die as Saudi authorities confront pro-Iranian demonstration 1987: 402 people die when security forces break up an anti-US demonstration by Iranian pilgrims
"There were a group of pilgrims sitting on the floor. Another group walked over to them and the stampede took place," she said. Timeline: Deadliest stampedes
Mina, a large valley about 5 km (3 miles) from Mecca, also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage. The hundreds of wounded have been taken to four hospitals in the area.
Amateur video and photographs posted on social media showed the bodies of dozens of pilgrims on the ground. They were all dressed in the simple white garments worn during the Hajj.
The civil defence directorate said the victims were of "different nationalities", without providing details.
Iran's state news agency, Irna, said at least 43 Iranians were among the dead.
BBC Hausa Service correspondent Tchima Illa Issoufou, who was with some of those affected in Mina, said many pilgrims from Niger were also killed.
The UK Foreign Office said it was in contact with the local authorities and was urgently seeking more information about whether British nationals were involved.
Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV reported that the head of the central Hajj committee, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, had blamed the stampede on "some pilgrims with African nationalities".
But the head of Iran's Hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, told Irna that two routes to the Jamarat pillars had been inexplicably closed off by the Saudi authorities, resulting in the build-up in pilgrims.
What happens at the Hajj?
Why do millions gather in Mecca every year?
The stampede was the deadliest at the Hajj since 2006, when more than 360 pilgrims were killed in the same area.The stampede was the deadliest at the Hajj since 2006, when more than 360 pilgrims were killed in the same area.
The Saudi authorities have been working on improving transport and other infrastructure in the area in an attempt to try to prevent such incidents. The Saudi authorities have spent billions of dollars on improving transport and other infrastructure in the area in an attempt to try to prevent such incidents.
The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is the journey that every able-bodied adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it.The Hajj is the fifth and final pillar of Islam. It is the journey that every able-bodied adult Muslim must undertake at least once in their lives if they can afford it.
Are you at Mecca, do you know someone who is? If it is safe to do so, let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories. Are you at Mecca, or do you know someone who is? If it is safe to do so, let us know about your experiences. Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your stories.
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