New count shows hajj stampede was deadliest in its history

14 October 2015, 2:18 pm

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Figures from foreign officials bring the death toll in last month’s hajj stampede near Mecca to at least 1,633, making it the deadliest incident in the pilgrimage’s history.

Saudi Arabia is yet to provide an updated death toll, after saying that 769 Muslim pilgrims had died in the tragedy. Saudi authorities are still to provide a breakdown by nationality.

Hundreds of pilgrims are also not accounted for following the September 24 stampede at the hajj, one of the largest annual gatherings in the world.

But figures from many foreign governments on pilgrims killed from their countries and an AFP tally show the death toll overtakes the 1,426 pilgrims who died in the hajj’s worst previous incident — a tunnel stampede in July 1990.

— AFP