The world is still shocked by the tragic stampede that took place during Hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, which led to the death of over 700 people and left almost 900 others injured in Saudi Arabia.
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The worst tragedy in 25 years at the annual Muslim pilgrimage spurred King Salman of Saudi Arabia to order “a revision” of Haj organisation while authorities started a probe into the disaster.
131 Iranians are among the dead, along with dozens of pilgrims from a number of other Muslim countries including Indonesia, Pakistan and Kenya.
The stampede “was perhaps because some pilgrims moved without following instructions by the relevant authorities”, he said in a statement.
Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred on Thursday as two million pilgrims from 180 countries were taking part in the Haj’s last major rite.
The disaster is believed to have occurred when two huge groups of pilgrims arrived at a crossroads in Mina on the way to performing the “stoning of the devil” ritual at Jamarat.
A leading Iranian MP said Saudi Arabia is not qualified to be in charge of Hajj.
“Death to the Saudi dynasty!” hundreds of demonstrators chanted at a protest in the Iranian capital Tehran.
The findings of the investigation will be submitted to King Salman, “who will take appropriate measures” in response, the Saudi Press agency said.
“There was crowding. The police had closed all entrances and exits to the pilgrims’ camp, leaving only one”, said Ahmed Abu Bakr, a 45-year-old Libyan who escaped the stampede with his mother.
Another official, the head of the Central Hajj Committee, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, blamed the incident on “some pilgrims from African nationalities”, according to a Saudi TV channel al-Arabiya.
“The great heat and fatigue of the pilgrims contributed to the large number of victims”, he said.
Jose on Thursday said they have not received information if there were Filipinos involved in the stampede. “One old man was clinging to the lifeless body of a relative”, said the newspaper.
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki also said the incident was “proof of the incompetence of the organizers of the pilgrimage season”.
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A Saudi Arabian official contacted by The National said he could not offer additional information until the results of the investigation are released.
