• Medical personnel tend to a wounded pilgrim. Many of the victims were crushed to death as they made their way to perform a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone columns in Mina. More than 160,000 tents are erected in the area, where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage. Reuters
    Medical personnel tend to a wounded pilgrim. Many of the victims were crushed to death as they made their way to perform a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone columns in Mina. More than 160,000 tents are erected in the area, where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage. Reuters
  • The pilgrimage, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of deadly disasters in the past, including stampedes, tent fires and riots. AFP Photo
    The pilgrimage, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of deadly disasters in the past, including stampedes, tent fires and riots. AFP Photo
  • Saudi emergency personnel and pilgrims help a man injured in the stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. AFP Photo
    Saudi emergency personnel and pilgrims help a man injured in the stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. AFP Photo
  • A rescue worker attends to a man injured in the stampede. Two weeks ago 110 people died in Mecca’s Grand Mosque when a crane working on an expansion project collapsed during a storm and toppled off the roof into the main courtyard, crushing pilgrims underneath. AP Photo
    A rescue worker attends to a man injured in the stampede. Two weeks ago 110 people died in Mecca’s Grand Mosque when a crane working on an expansion project collapsed during a storm and toppled off the roof into the main courtyard, crushing pilgrims underneath. AP Photo
  • Saudi ambulances arrive with pilgrims who were injured in a stampede at an emergency hospital in Mina, near the city of Mecca. AFP Photo / Mohammed Al-Shaikh
    Saudi ambulances arrive with pilgrims who were injured in a stampede at an emergency hospital in Mina, near the city of Mecca. AFP Photo / Mohammed Al-Shaikh
  • A pilgrim searches for a relative who was injured in the stampede. The Haj poses an immense logistical and security challenge for Saudi Arabia given the sheer number of pilgrims – hundreds of thousands of people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, many of whom have saved for years for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – intent on following the same set of rituals at about the same time. AFP Photo / Mohammed Al-Shaikh
    A pilgrim searches for a relative who was injured in the stampede. The Haj poses an immense logistical and security challenge for Saudi Arabia given the sheer number of pilgrims – hundreds of thousands of people from different linguistic and cultural backgrounds, many of whom have saved for years for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity – intent on following the same set of rituals at about the same time. AFP Photo / Mohammed Al-Shaikh
  • The kingdom’s interior ministry said that the crush appeared to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection. The ministry’s spokesman, Maj Gen Mansour Al Turki, said high temperatures and the fatigue of the pilgrims may also have been factors in the disaster. AP Photo / Mosa’ab Elshamy
    The kingdom’s interior ministry said that the crush appeared to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection. The ministry’s spokesman, Maj Gen Mansour Al Turki, said high temperatures and the fatigue of the pilgrims may also have been factors in the disaster. AP Photo / Mosa’ab Elshamy

World

Mina stampede claims over 700 lives - in pictures

Robert Mickelson

September 24, 2015

  • English
  • Arabic

A stampede killed at least 717 pilgrims and injured hundreds more in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday, the deadliest tragedy to strike the annual Haj pilgrimage in more than two decades.

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