Authorities say the death toll from last week’s stampede in a tent city outside Mecca has risen to 1,100, with at least 863 pilgrims injured, reports Fox News.
This comes on the heels of another disaster during this year’s hajj season, a crane collapse in Mecca nearly two weeks earlier left 111 people dead. The Saudi authorities are facing serious questions about the safety measures they put in place for the approximately 2 million Muslims taking part in this year’s pilgrimage. The Interior 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.
Many of the victims were crushed and trampled to death as they were on their way to perform a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone columns.
Two survivors interviewed by The Associated Press said the disaster began when one wave of pilgrims found themselves heading into a mass of people going in another direction. “There was no preparation,” one said. “What happened was more than they were ready for.”
