More than 300 pilgrims were killed in a stampede near Mecca – BBC Russian

Image copyright AP

Image caption At the scene go rescue

Saudi Arabia as a result of a crush in the crowd of pilgrims, killing at least 310 people, according to the Saudi civil defense in the “Twitter”.

According to reports, about 450 people were injured.

The crush occurred in Mina, near Mecca, where pilgrims perform the last rites of Hajj.

At the scene are rescue operations.

197 people were hospitalized. 66 of them – women. 16 people are in critical condition.

The Consulate General of Russia in Jeddah, BBC Russian Service reported that at the moment no information on the dead Russians. Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry said that none of the 4000 Kazakhstanis are not affected, since at this time they were in the Al-Haram.

The Hajj is attended by over a million people.

On the last day Hajj pilgrims go to Mina where they throw rocks at large pillar symbolizing Satan.

According to preliminary data, among the injured in a stampede that occurred in the valley of Mina, near Mecca in Saudi Arabia, there are no Russians. This publication LifeNews said the Russian Embassy in Riyadh.

“I phoned the leaders of Russian tour operators. According to preliminary data, in the crush Russian pilgrims were not injured or killed,” – told Interfax First Deputy Chairman of the Board Muftis of Russia Rushan Abbyasov. According to him, a tent camp in the valley is divided into sectors: a sector where the accident occurred, was designed for the pilgrims from the Gulf countries.

Image copyright AP

Image caption Haji arrived more than a million people

Crush during Hajj occurred repeatedly. In 1990, as a result of a stampede in a tunnel in Mecca, killing more than 1,400 people.

On September 12, the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca collapsed crane, killing about 100 people. In the courtyard of the Al-Haram is the main shrine of Islam, the Kaaba – the cubic structure in black, toward which all Muslims of the world should seek in prayer.

The Saudis are very serious about this type of accident, so how the country presents itself on the international scene as a patron and guardian of Islam, Mecca and Medina. The official title of the Saudi king – “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques”.

The last nine years, the Hajj took place without major incidents. Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in improving infrastructure and security in Mecca and Medina.

Take a pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in your life – the religious duty of a Muslim, if his health allows.