The death toll in the stampede on Thursday during the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has risen to more than 700, according to Reuters news agency.
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Quoting Saudi Civil Defence authorities, the agency said civil defence teams were still trying to deal with the stampede caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside Makkah.
Reuters also said that at least 800 pilgrims were injured in the incident.
The agency said the last major stampede incident during the haj took place in 2006, when at least 346 pilgrims were killed as they attempted to perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual at Jamarat.
Earlier, Bernama journalist Mohd Shukri Ishak had reported from Makkah that more than three million pilgrims from around the world, including over 22,000 Malaysians, were now in the Holy Land to perform the Haj.
Large numbers of the pilgrims converge at the Arafah plains gradually for the wukuf (grand assembly) and put up there overnight, turning the place into a giant tent city.
The tent city is divided into zones for countries that have sent their pilgrims.
The pilgrims perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual on the 11th, 12th and 13th day of the Muslim month of Zulhijjah. - Bernama
I believe Riyadh would launch a full investigation and come up with a solution. Did it happen due to overcrowded, security or other reasons.
Just hope they won't reduce the number of quotas should 'overcrowded' is the reason. We've got too many on the waiting list.
Quoting Saudi Civil Defence authorities, the agency said civil defence teams were still trying to deal with the stampede caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside Makkah.
Reuters also said that at least 800 pilgrims were injured in the incident.
The agency said the last major stampede incident during the haj took place in 2006, when at least 346 pilgrims were killed as they attempted to perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual at Jamarat.
Earlier, Bernama journalist Mohd Shukri Ishak had reported from Makkah that more than three million pilgrims from around the world, including over 22,000 Malaysians, were now in the Holy Land to perform the Haj.
Large numbers of the pilgrims converge at the Arafah plains gradually for the wukuf (grand assembly) and put up there overnight, turning the place into a giant tent city.
The tent city is divided into zones for countries that have sent their pilgrims.
The pilgrims perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual on the 11th, 12th and 13th day of the Muslim month of Zulhijjah. - Bernama
I believe Riyadh would launch a full investigation and come up with a solution. Did it happen due to overcrowded, security or other reasons.
Just hope they won't reduce the number of quotas should 'overcrowded' is the reason. We've got too many on the waiting list.