Mecca stampede kills hundreds

September 24, 2015

A today has killed over 717 Muslim pilgrims, officials say, in, outside Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the Muslims' holy city, where the pilgrims gathered to throw stones at one of the three walls to symbolize the , a ritual performed during the Hajj. The cause of the stampede is uncertain.

Civil defence of Saudi Arabia mentioned the death toll is continuing to rise, and 863 pilgrims were injured during the incident, and also mentioned rescue operations are under way with, as of earlier today, 4000 personnel along with more than 200 emergency and rescue units present at the scene.

This is reportedly the worst Hajj pilgrimage disaster in 25 years. A similar incident in Mina in 2006 killed more than 350 pilgrims.