Egyptian awqaf minister briefs PM on Hajj stampede

Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa said he updated the prime minister on the death toll of the Egyptian pilgrims who were killed in a stampede during a Hajj ritual in Saudi Arabia.

Addressing a press conference in the holy lands, Gomaa said heads of Hajj's missions would stay in Saudi Arabia to finalize procedures of the pilgrims' departure.

The ministry, in coordination with Egypt's consulate in Jeddah, is following up the health conditions of the Egyptian pilgrims who were injured during the incident that claimed the lives of 769 people and injured 934 others.

The death toll from the stampede rose to 37 among the Egyptian pilgrims, Gomaa said.

Names of the deceased pilgrims were announced, he added.

No verified reports are ready on missing people, he said.

Two aides to justice ministers, Rahim Nabi Yusuf and Ahmed Saber Mohamed Barbary, lost their lives in the mishap, the minister added.

The minister hailed efforts exerted by the Saudi authorities to facilitate the identification of the victims during the tough time

Source: MENA