Number of Egyptian pilgrims killed in Mina stampede rises to 37

Daily News Egypt
2 Min Read
A total of 13,000 Egyptian pilgrims have arrived in Saudi Arabia (AFP photo)

Egypt’s Minister of Religious Endowments, Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, announced Saturday that the confirmed number of deaths amongst Egyptian pilgrims as a result of the Mina stampede has risen to 37.

This marked a rise compared to the previously reported 14 deaths.

The ministry also announced on Saturday the names of the 26 Egyptians injured in the stampede, which occurred at the end of the Hajj pilgrimage in Mina. The incident resulted in the deaths of a total of 769 pilgrims, according to Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry. The Ministry of Religious Endowments added that it would follow up on cases of injured pilgrims, as well as maintain contact with hospitals in Saudi Arabia in case new bodies are identified.

Officials from the Egyptian government are taking measures to coordinate with the victims’ families in order to arrange their burial, according to the head of the Egyptian medical delegation.

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered a ministerial reshuffle following the deadly incident, with officials blaming the catastrophe on pilgrims “who didn’t follow the instructions”. A committee was formed to investigate the incident, and results will be announced as soon as the investigation comes to an end, according to Saudi officials.

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, demanded an apology from Saudi Arabia regarding the incident, state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported on Sunday. Iran previously blamed a convoy belonging to a Saudi prince for triggering the panic that led to the stampede.

This year’s Hajj had also witnessed the deaths of 107 pilgrims and the injury of 238 others due to the collapse of a construction crane that landed partially on the Grand Mosque during a violent rainstorm.

 

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