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| Mecca: hajj crush kills hundreds near holy city – as it happened | Mecca: hajj crush kills hundreds near holy city – as it happened |
| (4 months later) | |
| 5.17pm BST | |
| 17:17 | |
| 5.15pm BST | |
| 17:15 | |
| Here are a couple of eyewitness accounts submitted through GuardianWitness: | Here are a couple of eyewitness accounts submitted through GuardianWitness: |
| Bashaar Jamil from London | Bashaar Jamil from London |
| “I was there in the morning after the prayers. There were thousands of people going in via the entry tunnel and people coming out from the exit tunnel. Until we reached the stone throwing area, it was congested but after that it was fine. | “I was there in the morning after the prayers. There were thousands of people going in via the entry tunnel and people coming out from the exit tunnel. Until we reached the stone throwing area, it was congested but after that it was fine. |
| The exit then got cramped as people were trying to leave as quickly as possible. I was with my mum and luckily we got out literally 20 to 30 mins before the stampede started. Apparently, the exit tunnel was closed by the authorities and people were using one tunnel to go in and come out. | The exit then got cramped as people were trying to leave as quickly as possible. I was with my mum and luckily we got out literally 20 to 30 mins before the stampede started. Apparently, the exit tunnel was closed by the authorities and people were using one tunnel to go in and come out. |
| Makes no sense as you have huge crowd going in and going out with no traffic control system. Saudi authorities may have spent on expansion but certainly not on safety. There is no disabled toilet, access for elderly, emergency escape for the poorly; these all are basic requirements which I believe the government has failed to achieve.” | Makes no sense as you have huge crowd going in and going out with no traffic control system. Saudi authorities may have spent on expansion but certainly not on safety. There is no disabled toilet, access for elderly, emergency escape for the poorly; these all are basic requirements which I believe the government has failed to achieve.” |
| Sharek Kader from Bangladesh, said this is his first time at the hajj and he was there with five other people: | Sharek Kader from Bangladesh, said this is his first time at the hajj and he was there with five other people: |
| “I was there after sunrise but decided to throw the stones from the 3rd level instead of the first as most of the people were rushing towards level one. It’s tragic, but the authorities cannot do much as people tend to move with the flow. Its very easy to blame the Saudis, however, better pre hajj training should be made mandatory before giving visas to someone of the countries. | “I was there after sunrise but decided to throw the stones from the 3rd level instead of the first as most of the people were rushing towards level one. It’s tragic, but the authorities cannot do much as people tend to move with the flow. Its very easy to blame the Saudis, however, better pre hajj training should be made mandatory before giving visas to someone of the countries. |
| He adds that “despite the tragedy the Kaaba is totally packed with hajis”. | He adds that “despite the tragedy the Kaaba is totally packed with hajis”. |
| 5.03pm BST | |
| 17:03 | |
| Al-Aribya is reporting some highly inflammatory comments allegedly made by a member of the central hajj committee: | Al-Aribya is reporting some highly inflammatory comments allegedly made by a member of the central hajj committee: |
| From al-Jazeera: | From al-Jazeera: |
| The head of Central Hajj Committee Prince Khaled al-Faisal blamed the stampede on “some pilgrims from African nationalities”, according to Saudi-owned al-Arabiya Channel | The head of Central Hajj Committee Prince Khaled al-Faisal blamed the stampede on “some pilgrims from African nationalities”, according to Saudi-owned al-Arabiya Channel |
| Updated | |
| at 5.04pm BST | |
| 4.45pm BST | |
| 16:45 | |
| AP has some more details the Saudi interior ministry suggesting pilgrims are to blame rather than the authorities: | AP has some more details the Saudi interior ministry suggesting pilgrims are to blame rather than the authorities: |
| Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said high temperatures and the fatigue of the pilgrims might also have been factors in Thursday’s disaster, the deadliest event to afflict the hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades. | Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki said high temperatures and the fatigue of the pilgrims might also have been factors in Thursday’s disaster, the deadliest event to afflict the hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades. |
| He says there is no indication that authorities are to blame for the event, saying “unfortunately, these incidents happen in a moment.” | He says there is no indication that authorities are to blame for the event, saying “unfortunately, these incidents happen in a moment.” |
| Al-Turki says King Salman has ordered the creation of committee to investigate the incident. | Al-Turki says King Salman has ordered the creation of committee to investigate the incident. |
| 4.37pm BST | |
| 16:37 | |
| The Saudi interior ministry says the death toll may rise further, al-Arabiya is reporting. | The Saudi interior ministry says the death toll may rise further, al-Arabiya is reporting. |
| 4.35pm BST | |
| 16:35 | |
| The number of Iranian victims has risen to 89, more than 10% of the total. | The number of Iranian victims has risen to 89, more than 10% of the total. |
| Now 89 Iranians among the over 700 dead in #MinaStampede. #hajj #SaudiArabia | Now 89 Iranians among the over 700 dead in #MinaStampede. #hajj #SaudiArabia |
| 4.25pm BST | |
| 16:25 | |
| Eman al-Nafjan, who blogs under the name Saudiwoman, has been tweeting reasons given by Saudi authorities for past deaths in stampedes during the hajj. | Eman al-Nafjan, who blogs under the name Saudiwoman, has been tweeting reasons given by Saudi authorities for past deaths in stampedes during the hajj. |
| A lot of the reasons given in the past seem to bear a similarity to those given for today’s tragedy health minister Khaled al-Falih who suggested undisciplined pilgrims were to blame. Some of the tweets are below. At the least, they raise questions about whether enough has been done to tackle the causes of such stampedes. | A lot of the reasons given in the past seem to bear a similarity to those given for today’s tragedy health minister Khaled al-Falih who suggested undisciplined pilgrims were to blame. Some of the tweets are below. At the least, they raise questions about whether enough has been done to tackle the causes of such stampedes. |
| #Hajj 2015 stampede death toll: so far 717. Reason given: http://t.co/nrH8j1lcWT pic.twitter.com/DXwAwBkLyH | #Hajj 2015 stampede death toll: so far 717. Reason given: http://t.co/nrH8j1lcWT pic.twitter.com/DXwAwBkLyH |
| #Hajj 2006 stampede death toll: 345. Reason given: http://t.co/qiHlSTj8r2 pic.twitter.com/JQteIrJJlS | #Hajj 2006 stampede death toll: 345. Reason given: http://t.co/qiHlSTj8r2 pic.twitter.com/JQteIrJJlS |
| #Hajj 2004 stampede death toll: 244. Reason given: http://t.co/N8OX68qGdt pic.twitter.com/KjwSztV5Cr | #Hajj 2004 stampede death toll: 244. Reason given: http://t.co/N8OX68qGdt pic.twitter.com/KjwSztV5Cr |
| #Hajj 2003 stampede death toll: 14. Reason given: http://t.co/XhYuo6ZvGv pic.twitter.com/lKy359aSAo | #Hajj 2003 stampede death toll: 14. Reason given: http://t.co/XhYuo6ZvGv pic.twitter.com/lKy359aSAo |
| #Hajj 2001 stampede death toll: 35. Reason given: http://t.co/KYuadiAF2b pic.twitter.com/bWS8moYwZt | #Hajj 2001 stampede death toll: 35. Reason given: http://t.co/KYuadiAF2b pic.twitter.com/bWS8moYwZt |
| #Hajj 1990 stampede deaths: 1400. Reason given: http://t.co/lPY2i6bbJS pic.twitter.com/8tLlZo8ql9 | #Hajj 1990 stampede deaths: 1400. Reason given: http://t.co/lPY2i6bbJS pic.twitter.com/8tLlZo8ql9 |
| Patterns in #Hajj fire & stampede deaths & official reasons since 1990(check PTs): 1-pilgrims are blamed 2-lull during King Abdullah's reign | Patterns in #Hajj fire & stampede deaths & official reasons since 1990(check PTs): 1-pilgrims are blamed 2-lull during King Abdullah's reign |
| Updated | |
| at 4.32pm BST | |
| 4.16pm BST | |
| 16:16 | |
| Ap has spoken to two survivors of the crash: | Ap has spoken to two survivors of the crash: |
| “I saw someone trip over someone in a wheelchair and several people tripping over him. People were climbing over one another just to breathe,” said one of the survivors, Abdullah Lotfy, 44, from Egypt. “It was like a wave. You go forward and suddenly you go back.” | “I saw someone trip over someone in a wheelchair and several people tripping over him. People were climbing over one another just to breathe,” said one of the survivors, Abdullah Lotfy, 44, from Egypt. “It was like a wave. You go forward and suddenly you go back.” |
| Lotfy said that having two flows of pilgrims interacting in this way should never have happened. “There was no preparation. What happened was more than they were ready for,” he said of the Saudi authorities ... | Lotfy said that having two flows of pilgrims interacting in this way should never have happened. “There was no preparation. What happened was more than they were ready for,” he said of the Saudi authorities ... |
| Another survivor, Ismail Hamba, 58, from Nigeria, recalled falling down and then being trampled over by marching pilgrims. | Another survivor, Ismail Hamba, 58, from Nigeria, recalled falling down and then being trampled over by marching pilgrims. |
| “It was terrible, it was really, really terrible,” he said. | “It was terrible, it was really, really terrible,” he said. |
| Another pilgrim criticised the organisation of this year’s hajj to AFP: | Another pilgrim criticised the organisation of this year’s hajj to AFP: |
| A Sudanese pilgrim in Mina said this year’s hajj was the most poorly organised of four he had attended. | A Sudanese pilgrim in Mina said this year’s hajj was the most poorly organised of four he had attended. |
| “People were already dehydrated and fainting” before the stampede, said the pilgrim who declined to be named. | “People were already dehydrated and fainting” before the stampede, said the pilgrim who declined to be named. |
| People “were tripping all over each other”, he said, adding that a Saudi companion had warned him that “something was going to happen”. | People “were tripping all over each other”, he said, adding that a Saudi companion had warned him that “something was going to happen”. |
| 4.06pm BST | |
| 16:06 | |
| Saudi site al-Arabiya has details of a press conference given today by a Saudi interior ministry spokesman, in which he said that the crush was caused by convergence of pilgrims coming from two different streets: | Saudi site al-Arabiya has details of a press conference given today by a Saudi interior ministry spokesman, in which he said that the crush was caused by convergence of pilgrims coming from two different streets: |
| Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told reporters that the incident took place when two pathways converged at the the same time. The majority of Thursday’s victims, according to al-Turki, descended onto a pathway toward Jamarat during a time that was not allocated to them. | Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told reporters that the incident took place when two pathways converged at the the same time. The majority of Thursday’s victims, according to al-Turki, descended onto a pathway toward Jamarat during a time that was not allocated to them. |
| When asked why authorities could not expand the areas of the camp city of Mina and Mashar to accommodate the huge numbers of pilgrims, al-Turki said: “As per the boundaries of of Mashar and Mina areas, we cannot possibly expand the locations as both Mashar and Mina have set boundaries that are dictated by Islamic principles for Hajj proceedings.” | When asked why authorities could not expand the areas of the camp city of Mina and Mashar to accommodate the huge numbers of pilgrims, al-Turki said: “As per the boundaries of of Mashar and Mina areas, we cannot possibly expand the locations as both Mashar and Mina have set boundaries that are dictated by Islamic principles for Hajj proceedings.” |
| Al-Aarabiya also reports that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef has ordered an inquiry “into finding why procedures and protocols were not followed at the time of the stampede”. | Al-Aarabiya also reports that Saudi Arabia’s crown prince Mohammed bin Nayef has ordered an inquiry “into finding why procedures and protocols were not followed at the time of the stampede”. |
| 3.55pm BST | |
| 15:55 | |
| Britain’s chief rabbi has said his prayers are with those affected: | Britain’s chief rabbi has said his prayers are with those affected: |
| My thoughts and prayers are with the many who have tragically died and been injured today near #Mecca taking part in the Hajj | My thoughts and prayers are with the many who have tragically died and been injured today near #Mecca taking part in the Hajj |
| 3.33pm BST | |
| 15:33 | |
| The Church of England has offered up prayers for those who have been caught up in the hajj tragedy, PA reports. It is for those who have died, are working to save life and for those who are worried for people they love. | The Church of England has offered up prayers for those who have been caught up in the hajj tragedy, PA reports. It is for those who have died, are working to save life and for those who are worried for people they love. |
| 3.24pm BST | |
| 15:24 | |
| Al Jazeera journalist Basma Atassi reports that the streets between camps in Mina remain very crowded. | Al Jazeera journalist Basma Atassi reports that the streets between camps in Mina remain very crowded. |
| Check out how crowded are the streets between camps in Mina #Hajj2015. Follow me in real-time http://t.co/GgLg8siUOO pic.twitter.com/qZ1NVbRKpj | Check out how crowded are the streets between camps in Mina #Hajj2015. Follow me in real-time http://t.co/GgLg8siUOO pic.twitter.com/qZ1NVbRKpj |
| 3.14pm BST | |
| 15:14 | |
| It is still not known if any of the dead are British but the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said it is in contact with the local authorities. It is estimated that around 25,000 British nationals head overseas from the UK to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, according to Abta, the travel association. | It is still not known if any of the dead are British but the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has said it is in contact with the local authorities. It is estimated that around 25,000 British nationals head overseas from the UK to Saudi Arabia for the hajj, according to Abta, the travel association. |
| Rashid Mogradia, of the Council of British Hajjis, a national organisation which looks after the welfare of pilgrims who are going to Mecca, told BBC News: | Rashid Mogradia, of the Council of British Hajjis, a national organisation which looks after the welfare of pilgrims who are going to Mecca, told BBC News: |
| Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. | Our thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected. |
| It is tragic news. On the one hand we have Muslims all around the world and here in the UK celebrating Eid while we have this tragic incident unfolding before us in Mina, Saudi Arabia. | It is tragic news. On the one hand we have Muslims all around the world and here in the UK celebrating Eid while we have this tragic incident unfolding before us in Mina, Saudi Arabia. |
| We have been in contact with a number of tour operators who have taken around 20,000 British pilgrims out for the hajj making up that figure of two million pilgrims. | We have been in contact with a number of tour operators who have taken around 20,000 British pilgrims out for the hajj making up that figure of two million pilgrims. |
| We are seeing on a hourly basis and now minute-by-minute the numbers are increasing and we hope that will be the end of what we hear. | We are seeing on a hourly basis and now minute-by-minute the numbers are increasing and we hope that will be the end of what we hear. |
| There is a lot that has been done as far as infrastructure has been concerned, however we need to understand what has gone on today and how it can be improved so that further casualties and further incidents do not take place. | There is a lot that has been done as far as infrastructure has been concerned, however we need to understand what has gone on today and how it can be improved so that further casualties and further incidents do not take place. |
| Britons who are facing an anxious wait to hear of their loves ones have been tweeting their concerns. | Britons who are facing an anxious wait to hear of their loves ones have been tweeting their concerns. |
| News of deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage stampede is making me worry as my mom and her best friend are there now. | News of deaths during the Hajj pilgrimage stampede is making me worry as my mom and her best friend are there now. |
| Absolutely heart breaking about what's happened at Hajj. I have a friend whose parents are there. I can only hope they're safe. | Absolutely heart breaking about what's happened at Hajj. I have a friend whose parents are there. I can only hope they're safe. |
| What is happening??? so sad to read this.. I have one of my best friend there with his wife ; worried sick about... http://t.co/cjzgalpnJ2 | What is happening??? so sad to read this.. I have one of my best friend there with his wife ; worried sick about... http://t.co/cjzgalpnJ2 |
| Updated | |
| at 3.19pm BST | |
| 2.54pm BST | |
| 14:54 | |
| A Saudi activist opposed to the Mecca development project, has blamed corruption for the failure to prevent such accidents recurring. The activist said: | A Saudi activist opposed to the Mecca development project, has blamed corruption for the failure to prevent such accidents recurring. The activist said: |
| We are not that much surprised at the accident. We are expecting worse every time. Since this disaster has happened before, so we all expecting that it’s normal to have such a disaster. Maybe it is not normal in other countries, but on account of the corruption that’s going on here in our country ,anything can easily make a disaster for us. We should expect worse and worse. | We are not that much surprised at the accident. We are expecting worse every time. Since this disaster has happened before, so we all expecting that it’s normal to have such a disaster. Maybe it is not normal in other countries, but on account of the corruption that’s going on here in our country ,anything can easily make a disaster for us. We should expect worse and worse. |
| Other countries don’t have such a budget every year that we do. Unfortunately, with a country which has the richest income, and comparing to the number of people who are living in this country, unfortunately we don’t have the plans, the strategy to manage this. The problem is the corruption in using the resources of the country for building things in the right form. | Other countries don’t have such a budget every year that we do. Unfortunately, with a country which has the richest income, and comparing to the number of people who are living in this country, unfortunately we don’t have the plans, the strategy to manage this. The problem is the corruption in using the resources of the country for building things in the right form. |
| Unfortunately the government are pointing the finger against the lower levels, saying for example ‘Where are the ambulances, where are the health care workers to manage the people who are injured?’ They try to escape from the real reason of such disaster. | Unfortunately the government are pointing the finger against the lower levels, saying for example ‘Where are the ambulances, where are the health care workers to manage the people who are injured?’ They try to escape from the real reason of such disaster. |
| 2.37pm BST | |
| 14:37 | |
| Saudi health minister blames undisciplined pilgrims | Saudi health minister blames undisciplined pilgrims |
| Saudi health minister Khaled al-Falih has blamed undisciplined pilgrims for the tragedy, saying it could have been avoided if they had “followed instructions”. | Saudi health minister Khaled al-Falih has blamed undisciplined pilgrims for the tragedy, saying it could have been avoided if they had “followed instructions”. |
| 2.34pm BST | |
| 14:34 | |
| The number of injured has risen to 863, according to Saudi civil defence. | The number of injured has risen to 863, according to Saudi civil defence. |
| 1.44pm BST | |
| 13:44 | |
| 1.39pm BST | |
| 13:39 | |
| Death toll rises to 717 | Death toll rises to 717 |
| The death toll has risen to 717 dead and 805 injured, Saudi authorities say. | The death toll has risen to 717 dead and 805 injured, Saudi authorities say. |
| 1.32pm BST | |
| 13:32 | |
| The crush took place on Street 204, a road between pilgrim camps, and not at the site of the stoning the devil ritual, according to an al-Jazeera journalist who has been reporting from Mina. | The crush took place on Street 204, a road between pilgrim camps, and not at the site of the stoning the devil ritual, according to an al-Jazeera journalist who has been reporting from Mina. |
| 1.19pm BST | |
| 13:19 | |
| The death toll is now the highest during the pilgrimage since 1990, when, in the worst hajj-related tragedy, 1,426 people died in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca. | The death toll is now the highest during the pilgrimage since 1990, when, in the worst hajj-related tragedy, 1,426 people died in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca. |
| Here are pictures from the hospital in Mina: | Here are pictures from the hospital in Mina: |
| Staff at Emergency Hospital in Mina rush to rescue injured from the Hajj stampede —State TV pic.twitter.com/Iew57HPyul | Staff at Emergency Hospital in Mina rush to rescue injured from the Hajj stampede —State TV pic.twitter.com/Iew57HPyul |
| 1.04pm BST | |
| 13:04 | |
| Iran now says that 43 of its citizens have died in the crush: | Iran now says that 43 of its citizens have died in the crush: |
| #BREAKING Iranian death toll at hajj stampede rises to 43 -- currently near one tenth total killed @AFP #Iran #hajj | #BREAKING Iranian death toll at hajj stampede rises to 43 -- currently near one tenth total killed @AFP #Iran #hajj |
| 12.52pm BST | |
| 12:52 | |
| Iran said at least 15 of its citizens have died in Mina and has accused its bitter enemy, Saudi Arabia, of safety errors in connection with the tragedy, AFP reports. | Iran said at least 15 of its citizens have died in Mina and has accused its bitter enemy, Saudi Arabia, of safety errors in connection with the tragedy, AFP reports. |
| The head of Iran’s hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, said that for “unknown reasons” two paths had been closed off near the scene of the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual where the accident later took place. | The head of Iran’s hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, said that for “unknown reasons” two paths had been closed off near the scene of the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual where the accident later took place. |
| “This caused this tragic incident,” he said on Iranian state television, giving the death toll, indicating that fatalities and casualties could rise. | “This caused this tragic incident,” he said on Iranian state television, giving the death toll, indicating that fatalities and casualties could rise. |
| Ohadi said the path closures had left only three routes to the area where the stoning ceremony was held. | Ohadi said the path closures had left only three routes to the area where the stoning ceremony was held. |
| “Today’s incident shows mismanagement and lack of serious attention to the safety of pilgrims. There is no other explanation. The Saudi officials should be held accountable.” | “Today’s incident shows mismanagement and lack of serious attention to the safety of pilgrims. There is no other explanation. The Saudi officials should be held accountable.” |
| Iran’s deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Saudi Arabia’s envoy would be summoned to the foreign ministry in Tehran over the incident. | Iran’s deputy foreign minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Saudi Arabia’s envoy would be summoned to the foreign ministry in Tehran over the incident. |
| “We can in no way be indifferent to this irresponsible behaviour of Saudi Arabia. This will be dealt with through diplomatic channels,” he said on state television. | “We can in no way be indifferent to this irresponsible behaviour of Saudi Arabia. This will be dealt with through diplomatic channels,” he said on state television. |
| He also accused Saudi officials of “tactlessness” over the lack of safety measures at the hajj and said Iran had set up a special headquarters at the accident site to support Iranian pilgrims. | He also accused Saudi officials of “tactlessness” over the lack of safety measures at the hajj and said Iran had set up a special headquarters at the accident site to support Iranian pilgrims. |
| “Saudi Arabian officials are responsible for this incident and they should immediately endeavour to take effective measures for managing the existing crisis and providing full security for pilgrims,” he was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. | “Saudi Arabian officials are responsible for this incident and they should immediately endeavour to take effective measures for managing the existing crisis and providing full security for pilgrims,” he was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. |
| To put the comments in context, Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting proxy wars in a number of countries, including Syria and Yemen. | To put the comments in context, Iran and Saudi Arabia have been fighting proxy wars in a number of countries, including Syria and Yemen. |