Stampede At Hajj Pilgrimage Near Mecca Kills Hundreds

[iammalcolmx]

My Lord

www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/09/24/443063778/stampede-strikes-hajj-pilgrimage-near-mecca-killing-hundreds

The annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, was struck by tragedy Thursday, as a stampede near the holy city killed at least 717 people and left more than 860 injured, according to Saudi officials.

The death toll and the number of injured have risen as authorities get reports from the site; initial reports stated that more than 300 people had died. We're updating this post as new information arrives.

The stampede occurred on a street in Mina, a large valley where thousands of pilgrims camp overnight on their way to Mecca. It's the deadliest incident at the hajj in at least 25 years, according to Gulf News.

A team of more than 4,000 soldiers and emergency personnel are attending to the victims, Saudia Arabia's civil defense directorate says.

From Beirut, NPR's Alison Meuse reports:

"The victims were performing one of the holiest rites in Islam. Every year, Muslims from all over the world converge on the holy city of Mecca in an ancient pilgrimage.

"Last year, the hajj drew more than 2 million people. Because of the high volume of worshipers, stampedes are an almost yearly occurrence.

"Saudi Arabia has been working to expand the ancient route. But that's also come with dangers. Two weeks ago, around 100 worshipers died when a crane crashed in the Grand Mosque amid heavy winds."

In addition to offering more than 160,000 tents for pilgrims, Mina is home to the Jamarat site, where "pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls," Gulf News reports.

Masses of people had been trying to reach that area, which includes a huge pedestrian bridge, when a sudden surge of pilgrims close to an intersection sparked the stampede, the Saudi Press Agency says.

[eponinepontmercy]

This is horrifying.

There has to be a better way to handle this. I feel like I see a similar news report almost every year.

[iammalcolmx]

One of my coworkers is there now. I hope she is OK.

[ChillyMcFreeze]

Wow. 717 people dead?? How does that even happen?

[pixy0stix]

How awful.

There are stampedes because that's just human nature. You'll get them anywhere you have really large groups of people.

[Cicero]

Sept 24, 2015 14:19:40 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

One of my coworkers is there now. I hope she is OK.

hope you hear from her soon.

I thought they really controlled the numbers there every year? Like each country gets X number of spaces and you have to get on a waiting list?

[jeaniebueller]

How awful. I hope your co worker is okay.

[miniroller]

Sept 24, 2015 14:31:44 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

Sept 24, 2015 14:19:40 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

One of my coworkers is there now. I hope she is OK.

Prayers for your coworker. I don't understand why there are stampedes.

Ok, seriously, I've also been trying to figure this out. Are people rushing to get to the site(s*) & the pushing/ shoving/ rushing just results in running your fellow Muslims into the ground? Literally
I've been pretty sick over trying to imagine this, & wondering about the conscious of these people who are crushing their peers to death. I truly don't understand. Agreed in prayers for immm's CW; an update would be appreciated, when you hear. Actually, if you are further informed about the experience, I'd love to read a detailed account on the event to hear (3rd-hand, but still) how the F this happens. Repeatedly.
*I read they spread the shrines out/ made three(?) instead of one to help alleviate crowd control after the last stampede disaster. But am still absolutely befuddled trying to imagine how this happens.

[pamela]

Sept 24, 2015 14:31:44 GMT -5 mryrcn said:

Sept 24, 2015 14:19:40 GMT -5 iammalcolmx said:

One of my coworkers is there now. I hope she is OK.

Prayers for your coworker. I don't understand why there are stampedes.

Because in a large crowd where you can see and can't escape, one person getting spooked leads to a small crowd jostling which spreads, some try to move out of the way but can't. Eventually it becomes save yourself.

I've ended up on the ground in one in the middle school hallway following lunch where the crowded constricted at a double door. It's scary.