Mina stampede: More than 770 still missing

Mina

A day after the deadly stampede that killed more than 700 pilgrims near Mecca, Saudi Arabia, fears are growing regarding a large number of pilgrims from various countries, who have not made contact ever since. 

The Saudi government said that 717 people were killed and more than 860 were hurt. The official IRNA news agency of Iran, which said 131 of its citizens were killed, stated yesterday that 365 Iranian pilgrims are still missing in Saudi Arabia. This has come as a new tool at the hands of Iranian officials to attack Saudi leaders. 

The Associated Press quoted an official from Pakistan as saying that 236 of its citizens were missing in the deadly stampede. Meanwhile, concern is growing for several groups of British pilgrims who have not made contact with their families since the stampede. The Muslim Council of Wales said it knew of around 120 people in three groups from Cardiff, Newport and Swansea who were unaccounted for. The authorities in Egypt reported 14 dead and 30 missing. Turkey reported 18 nationals missing. Afghanistan has said at least eight of its pilgrims are missing. Various African nations including Nigeria have claimed several of its citizens are still missing, but are yet to divulge exact figures.

With less information coming in, it is still unclear, the missing persons from different countries are counted among the dead or injured.  As Saudi authorities struggle to establish the identities, the total toll from yesterday’s tragedy remained static.