Hajj stampede kills over 700

Francesca Villette and Reuters

IN THE minutes leading up to the deaths of at least 717 pilgrims during a stampede in Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca yesterday, screams of terrified mothers, children and the elderly rang out, paralysing some with fear that chaos was about to erupt.

By late yesterday the death toll stood at 717, and at least 863 were injured. South African Zaid Ismal Bayat, a volunteer of the Khidmatul ’Awaam Pilgrimage Services, was participating in the ritual along with 80 other South Africans at the time of the stampede.

He said the stampede started when two groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads, moving in opposite directions on their way to perform the “stoning of the devil” ritual at Jamarat.

Speaking from Mina, Bayat said at least 500 South Africans had been on the pilgrimage with the service.

“It all started at about 7am and we were in the middle of it all. Terrified cries signalled that something terrible was about to happen. Mothers were running, carrying their babies in their arms; soldiers were carrying children and helping the elderly get to safety. People were collapsing all around us,” Bayat said. “It was my responsibility to get my group to safety. It was a mission to try to get everyone to safety. It was hot, crowded and difficult to walk, but by the grace of the Almighty, we were all safe.”

Bayat said during the pilgrimage, a one-way walk rule was applied. But yesterday two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads. By late yesterday afternoon, the streets of Mina were lined with people receiving CPR from paramedics.

Many were suffering from dehydration and cold water was given to those who needed to drink, Bayat said.

The Saudi Civil Defence said on its Twitter account that more than 220 ambulances and 4 000 rescue workers had been sent in to help the injured. Some of the wounded were evacuated by helicopters.

More than 100 000 police and thousands of video cameras were also deployed to allow groups to be dispersed before they reached dangerous numbers.

Shaheen Essop, president of the SA Hajj and Umrah Council, which interacts with the Saudi government on behalf of local pilgrims, said by late yesterday afternoon there were no reports of South Africans having died in the incident.

“Our hearts go out to the families of the people who have lost their lives,” Essop said.

The Department of International Relations and Co-operation said the government was still waiting to hear if any South Africans had died.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said that for South Africans, the stampede was particularly tragic as it happened on Heritage Day.

Earlier this month 111 people died and 331 people were injured when a construction crane collapsed at Saudi Arabia’s Grand Mosque.

francesca.villette@inl.co.za

@FrancescaJaneV