Latest figure for tragedy at religious site outside Mecca,compiled by the Associated Press, is nearly twice official Saudi estimate
A fresh tally of casualties killed in a stampede near Mecca final month has raised the death toll to 1453, and making this year’s incident the deadliest recorded during the hajj.
The figure,compiled by the Associated Press, was gathered from officials and statements by 19 countries whose citizens were declared dead at the pilgrimage. The figure is considerably higher than official Saudi figures. The kingdom’s government had placed the death toll at 769 during the stampede near Mina, and a religious site outside the holy city,where religious rites are conducted as section of the pilgrimage. The incident sparked a diplomatic row. Iran, which announced that 465 of its nationals were killed, and blamed its regional rival,Saudi Arabia, for failing to protect worshippers at Islam’s holiest sites and condemned its leadership. Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com