Hajj Stampede 2015: 717 Killed, 805 Injured On The First Day Of Eid Al-Adha Festival

What is supposed to be a peaceful celebration for Muslims in the holy city of Mecca turns out to be a horrible tragedy on their very important holiday. A stampede caused 717 people killed while 805 are listed as injured while taking part in the last major ceremony for Hajj, the Eid al-Adha, with the event attended by two million pilgrims from Saudi Arabia and around the world.

The statement from Saudi civil defense directorate states that the stampede occurred on Thursday morning at Street 204 and Street 223. At that time, pilgrims are walking towards the Jamarat Bridge, a five-story structure surrounded with pillars. As they travel, people throw stones at one of the three walls that represent evil, symbolizing the stoning of the devil.

It also added that a sudden increase of attendees is heading towards the said location, resulting to the said tragedy and the collapse of a large number of the pilgrim population. BBC reports that hundreds of wounded victims have been brought to four hospitals around the area.

The most recent tragedy involving the annual Hajj pilgrimage occurred in 2006, when 364 victims died in a crush at the foot of Jamarat Bridge in Mina. Meanwhile, the 1990 pilgrimage took the highest record toll of 1,426 pilgrims dying in a stampede in an overcrowded tunnel that lead to the holy sites, with many of the victims coming from Asia.

Said Ohadi, head of Iran's hajj organization, stated that the unannounced path closure near the scene of symbolic stoning have caused the tragic incident. The closures left the group with only 3 routes to the area, and according to The Guardian, the incident shows mismanagement and lack of serious attention to the pilgrims' safety during the holy annual event. He also said that Saudi officials should be held accountable of the tragedy.

Meanwhile, Iran's Deputy Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian confirmed that the incident will be dealt through diplomatic channels and will surely not be indifferent to the irresponsible behavior of Saudi Arabia.