8 - 14 March 2001
Issue No.524
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Al-Ahram Weekly On-line 8 - 14 March 2001 Issue No.524 |
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Deadly stampede
MUSLIM pilgrims, eager to get close to a pillar symbolising the devil, on Monday triggered the latest in a string of tragedies to have befallen the annual Hagg pilgrimage in recent years.As hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from 160 countries surged forward on a bridge at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, to hurl pebbles at the pillar, at least 38 people -- including 23 women -- were killed in the stampede.
Witnesses said some overzealous pilgrims tried to push their way towards the pillar. Pilgrims near it struggled to stay on their feet, but a number of old men and women fell. Many were crushed while others suffocated.
Saudi authorities have not revealed the identities of those killed in the stampede. According to Egypt's Ambassador to Riyadh, two Egyptian pilgrims were among the 38 killed and three others were injured.
Saudi newspapers reported on Tuesday that an Iranian and a Nigerian were among the dead. Saudi sources quoted by news agencies said most of the dead were from Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. Those injured came from Bangladesh, India, Morocco, Pakistan and Turkey. A few were reported to be in a serious condition, while more than 60 were discharged from hospital after treatment.
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