Saudi Arabia’s civil defense directorate says 717 people were killed in a crush of Muslim pilgrims near the holy city of Mecca.
Thursday’s disaster was the deadliest such incident on the annual hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades, and comes nearly two weeks after a crane collapsed in Mecca, killing 100 people.
The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometers (three miles) from Mecca that has been the site of past hajj stampedes.
Mina is where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone columns. It also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.
The civil defense directorate says at least 805 other pilgrims were injured.
EARLIER YWN REPORTS:
According to international media reports, many have been killed in a Hajj pilgrimage stampede in Mecca. A BBC report places the number of dead at 150. According to Twitter reports, hundreds have been injured as well.
According to Saudi Arabian officials, the fatal incident took place on day one of the Muslim Feast of the Sacrifice holiday.
Sky News reports that rescue operations are underway, echoing the 150 number for the current death toll.
13:00: The death toll is now reported to have passed 220.
13:14: Walla News quoting foreign sources places the death toll in the Hajj stampede at over 310.
(AP / YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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19 Responses
It should be banned by PETA
Keep em comin
What a tragedy. This happens all to often. Where is the international community to condemn this religious practice? Where are all the athiests calls for regulations on this proven danger? Is Hillary not “concerned” over the loss of life? BBC, NPR, CNN, NY Times, etc…?
Oh right. They are all too busy trying to ban Bris Mila & Mitzitza Bipeh! That is the real danger facing society at large!
I hope Israel doesn’t sent a resue team, to show the World how much רחמניות they have even on their Enemies
Maybe the mal’achim ate not allowed to sing shirah, but Bnai Yisrael may.
This seems to happen every year. You would think that if they valued life they would find a way to control the crowds. Perhaps they place little value on peoples lives.
Lchaim!!
בנפל אויבך אל תשמח … פן יראה ח׳ … והשיב מעליו אפו — אבות ד:כד
What a loving, peaceful religion!
N O T
Why do you have to write in this news item “The holy city” of Mecca?! It doesn’t paast in a “Yeshiva” news blog to call that city “holy”!
This all comes from the general lack of value of life that is rampant in that culture. Too much emphasis on death and dying. No value of human life.
Kain yirbu
will the city require consent forms for those who wish to make the pilgrimage?
” symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone columns”
This is an old Avodah Zara practice.
#5: recall our patriarch Abraham who exerted himself in prayers for the citizens of Sodom.
the Mossad did it.
I have an idea give them more cranes and many “holy” sites or as country Yossi says give em cholent they’ll be gone in a day
I am reading the YWN or the MWN? Why is mecca a “holy city”? Maybe correct that?
I am utterly disgusted by the comments above. These are people that died. Many of whom have family’s that will now be widows, orphans, and worse. It doesn’t matter which nationality, this is a mass tragedy.
I do business with many people in Saudi Arabia and they have very large hearts and are a pleasure to work with. My office sent flowers to 16 families that we work with that were affected.
Yes there are many islamic extremists that are our enemies. But how can you be so narrow minded to put the entire Muslim population in one boat.
My heart bleeds for the families affected. We pray for a quick recovery to all injured.
MAASEY YADAY TIVIM B’YAM. . .