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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, 

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


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," 

 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.  Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Disasters

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 since at least 2006.

Stampede at Hajj pilgrimage near Mecca kills hundreds

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