Egyptian interior minister checks on Egyptian pilgrims after Mina stampede incident

Egyptian Interior Minister Magdi Abdel Ghaffar phoned on Thursday Assistant Interior Minister and executive chairman of hajj mission Sayed Maher to inquire about the conditions of Egyptian pilgrims after Mina stampede incident that left 310 pilgrims dead.

The crush, that also left 450 others injured, happened on Street 204 of the tent city of Mina. The street is one of the main roads leading to Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles at three large pillars.

Abdel Ghaffar said he instructed the hajj mission members to immediately rush to the stampede scene to know whether there were any Egyptians among the dead and injured pilgrims.

In earlier statements, Maher said initial information showed there were no Egyptians among the casualties but he made clear that contacts were going on with Saudi authorities to get updated with any development.

The stampede took place at 7:30 a.m.

More than 220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers had been sent to the scene to help the wounded.

The stampede was the deadliest disaster at the hajj since 2006, when more than 360 pilgrims were killed in a stampede in the same area.

Source: MENA