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| Hajj stampede: Saudi king orders safety review | Hajj stampede: Saudi king orders safety review |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage after at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca. | Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage after at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca. |
| Another 863 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 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite. |
| It is the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years. | It is the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years. |
| The king said there was a need "to improve the level of organisation and management of movement" of pilgrims. | The king said there was a need "to improve the level of organisation and management of movement" of pilgrims. |
| In pictures: Aftermath of the stampede | In pictures: Aftermath of the stampede |
| Accounts from BBC staff in Mina | Accounts from BBC staff in Mina |
| Was stampede preventable? | |
| In the latest reaction: | In the latest reaction: |
| It is the second disaster to strike Mecca in two weeks, after a crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque, killing 109 people. | It is the second disaster to strike Mecca in two weeks, after a crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque, killing 109 people. |
| As part of the Hajj, pilgrims travel to Mina, a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, to throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil. | As part of the Hajj, pilgrims travel to Mina, a large valley about 5km (3 miles) from Mecca, to throw seven stones at pillars called Jamarat, which represent the devil. |
| The pillars stand where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham. | The pillars stand where Satan is believed to have tempted the Prophet Abraham. |
| Why do millions gather in Mecca every year? | Why do millions gather in Mecca every year? |
| The accident occurred at 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) as pilgrims were walking towards the five-storey structure which surrounds the pillars, known as the Jamarat Bridge. | The accident occurred at 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) as pilgrims were walking towards the five-storey structure which surrounds the pillars, known as the Jamarat Bridge. |
| Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki, a spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry, said the crush occurred when two large groups of pilgrims converged from different directions on to one street. | Maj Gen Mansour al-Turki, a spokesman for the Saudi interior ministry, said the crush occurred when two large groups of pilgrims converged from different directions on to one street. |
| Photographs showed the bodies of dozens of pilgrims on the ground, some piled high. They were all dressed in the simple white garments worn during the Hajj. | Photographs showed the bodies of dozens of pilgrims on the ground, some piled high. They were all dressed in the simple white garments worn during the Hajj. |
| "I saw someone trip over someone in a wheelchair and several people tripping over him," Abdullah Lotfy, from Egypt, told the Associated Press. "People were climbing over one another just to breathe." | "I saw someone trip over someone in a wheelchair and several people tripping over him," Abdullah Lotfy, from Egypt, told the Associated Press. "People were climbing over one another just to breathe." |
| "Dead bodies stretch as far as my eyes can see," said Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi, the BBC's Abuja editor, who is in Mina. | "Dead bodies stretch as far as my eyes can see," said Bashir Sa'ad Abdullahi, the BBC's Abuja editor, who is in Mina. |
| The civil defence directorate said the victims were of "different nationalities", without providing details. | The civil defence directorate said the victims were of "different nationalities", without providing details. |
| The BBC understands at least three Indonesians, and some pilgrims from Niger, are among the dead. | The BBC understands at least three Indonesians, and some pilgrims from Niger, are among the dead. |
| The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently seeking more information about whether British nationals were involved. | The UK Foreign Office said it was urgently seeking more information about whether British nationals were involved. |
| Hajj: Previous tragedies | Hajj: Previous tragedies |
| 2006: 364 pilgrims die in a crush at foot of Jamarat Bridge in Mina | 2006: 364 pilgrims die in a crush at foot of Jamarat Bridge in Mina |
| 1997: 340 pilgrims are killed when fire fuelled by high winds sweeps through Mina's tent city | 1997: 340 pilgrims are killed when fire fuelled by high winds sweeps through Mina's tent city |
| 1994: 270 pilgrims die in a stampede during the stoning ritual | 1994: 270 pilgrims die in a stampede during the stoning ritual |
| 1990: 1,426 pilgrims, mainly Asian, die in a stampede in an overcrowded tunnel leading to holy sites | 1990: 1,426 pilgrims, mainly Asian, die in a stampede in an overcrowded tunnel leading to holy sites |
| 1987: 402 people die when security forces break up an anti-US demonstration by Iranian pilgrims | 1987: 402 people die when security forces break up an anti-US demonstration by Iranian pilgrims |
| Timeline: Deadliest stampedes | Timeline: Deadliest stampedes |
| The Saudi authorities have spent billions of dollars on improving transport and other infrastructure to try to prevent such incidents. | The Saudi authorities have spent billions of dollars on improving transport and other infrastructure 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. |
| The number of people attending Hajj rose from 57,000 in 1921 to a high of 3.2m three years ago, according to the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information. | The number of people attending Hajj rose from 57,000 in 1921 to a high of 3.2m three years ago, according to the Saudi Central Department of Statistics and Information. |
| That figure dropped to just over two million last year. | That figure dropped to just over two million last year. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
| Or please use the form below: | Or please use the form below: |