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AROUND THE WORLD 1: Stampede Near Mecca

At least 345 people have died at the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia in one of the final events of the pilgrimage. The Hajj pilgrimage is an annual pilgrimage to Islam’s holiest sites and is made by able-bodied Muslims who have the financial means to do so. About 2 million people make the pilgrimage each year on the 12th month of the Islamic year for approximately 6 days.

A stampede broke out as thousands of people went past Al Jamarat--three large pillars representing the devil that the pilgrims pelt with stones to purge themselves of their sins. This ritual is considered the most dangerous part of the pilgrimage as worshippers try to target the pillars with rocks. The pillars are located on a large pedestrian bridge near the holy city of Mecca. According to reports, luggage fell from buses passing by the area, causing pilgrims to fall over them and consequently be crushed by the rush of people moving towards the site.

This is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred even though the Saudi government has made attempts to improve walkways around the holy sites. In 1990, a stampede killed 1,426 people.

--Written by Olivia Overman

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