Deadly stampede at hajj pilgrimage
A horrific stampede killed at least 717 pilgrims and injured nearly 900 more on Thursday, September 24, 2015, on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. It was deadliest tragedy to strike the annual hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades.
Here, Saudi emergency personnel and hajj pilgrims carry an injured person in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj.
Deadly stampede
A Muslim man (C) weeps after getting the news of the death of family members, who died in a September 24, 2015 stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, at his residence in Ahmedabad, India, September 25.
At least 717 pilgrims from around the world were killed in a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca in the worst disaster to strike the annual hajj pilgrimage for 25 years.
Deadly stampede
In this image posted on the official Twitter account of the directorate of the Saudi Civil Defense agency, a pilgrim is treated by a medic after a stampede that killed and injured pilgrims in the holy city of Mina during the annual hajj pilgrimage on Thursday, September 24, 2015.
The tragedy struck as Muslims around the world marked the start of the Eid al-Adha holiday.
Deadly stampede
Saudi security forces block the way to an area where a stampede occurred at the camp city at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015.
Deadly stampede
Saudi emergency personnel and hajj pilgrims load an injured person into an ambulance at the site where hundreds were killed and hundreds more injured in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
The stampede, the second deadly accident to strike pilgrims at the holy city this year, broke out during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual, the Saudi civil defense service said.
Deadly stampede
Saudi emergency personnel stand near bodies of hajj pilgrims at the site where at least 717 were killed and hundreds wounded in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
The stampede, the second deadly accident to strike the pilgrims this year, broke out during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual, the Saudi civil defense service said.
Deadly stampede
Saudi emergency personnel stand near bodies of hajj pilgrims at the site where at least 717 were killed and hundreds wounded in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
Deadly stampede
Saudi emergency personnel spray water to cool down Hajj pilgrims at the site where more than 700 were killed and nearly 900 more injured in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
Deadly Stampede
The bodies of Muslim pilgrims are seen following a crush caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Sept. 24, 2015.
The head of Iran's hajj organization blamed Saudi "mismanagement" for the crush of pilgrims outside Mecca. Saeed Ohadi told state TV by phone from Saudi Arabia that the incident might have been caused by the closure of a road.
Deadly Stampede
Saudi emergency personnel transport a body on a stretcher at the site where more than 700 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
Deadly Stampede
The September 24, 2015 disaster was the deadliest such incident on the annual hajj pilgrimage in more than two decades, and comes nearly two weeks after a crane collapsed in Mecca, killing 100 people.
Deadly Stampede
Saudi emergency personnel and Hajj pilgrims push a wounded person in a wheelchair at the site where more than 700 people were killed and hundreds more injured in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
Deadly Stampede
Saudi emergency personnel stand near bodies of hajj pilgrims at the site where at least 717 were killed and hundreds wounded in a stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, 2015.
Deadly Stampede
Muslim pilgrim mourns near a body following a crush caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015. The death toll from a stampede during the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Thursday has risen to 453 people of various nationalities, the Saudi civil defense said.
Deadly Stampede
Medical personnel tend to a wounded pilgrim following a crush caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015. The death toll from a stampede during the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Thursday has risen to 453 people of various nationalities, the Saudi civil defense said.
Deadly Stampede
Police vehicles drive past pilgrims on a road in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca September 24, 2015. At least 310 pilgrims were killed on Thursday in a crush at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, where some two million people are performing the annual hajj pilgrimage, Saudi authorities said.
Deadly Stampede
A general view of members of the Saudi Red Crescent tending to pilgrims who were victims of a crush caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca in this handout picture published on Facebook account of the Saudi Red Crescent September 24, 2015. At least 717 pilgrims were killed on Thursday in a stampede outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi authorities said, the worst disaster to strike the annual hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.
Muslim pilgrims
Muslim pilgrims walk on roads as they head to cast stones at pillars symbolizing Satan during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mina on the first day of Eid al-Adha, near the holy city of Mecca, September 24, 2015.
Muslim pilgrims
Hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims make their way to cast stones at a pillar symbolizing the stoning of Satan, in a ritual called "Jamarat," the last rite of the annual hajj, on the first day of Eid al-Adha, in Mina near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, September 24, 2015.