Over 700 Dead and Hundreds More Injured after Stampede in Mina Seen as ‘Worst Hajj Disaster in 25 Years’

At least 717 pilgrims were killed and 805 others were injured on Thursday in a stampede in Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, in the worst disaster to strike the annual haj pilgrimage in 25 years.

The stampede was caused by two large groups of pilgrims arriving together at a crossroads on their way to performing the “stoning the devil” ritual at Jamarat, Reuters reports citing Saudi civil defense.

“Work is underway to separate large groups of people and direct pilgrims to alternative routes,” the Saudi Civil Defense said on its Twitter account.

According to Reuters, Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense said more than 220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers had been sent to the stampede’s location to help the injured.

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