717 pilgrims crushed to death in Saudi haj stampede
Mecca, Saudi Arabia (dpa) - At least 717 Muslim pilgrims died Thursday in a haj crush in Saudi Arabia, authorities said, as condolences poured in from around the world.
The stampede, the worst tragedy during the annual pilgrimage in more than two decades, occurred at 0900 am local time (0600 GMT) during a stone-throwing ritual in the holy town of Mina near Mecca
At least 863 people were also wounded.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz announced an investigation and offered his condolences to the families of the dead.
"This sad accident, into which we have ordered authorities to launch an investigation and provide us with results as soon as possible, will not be allowed to degrade the great services we extend to the guests of God to perform their rituals," the monarch said on Sauditelevision.
He said Saudi Arabia would continue to upgrade the safety provisions for the haj season and that he has ordered authorities to review current provisions and seek to improve them.
The incident is the deadliest in the haj since 1990. It came three weeks after a construction crane collapsed in Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, killing 108 people.
