Prime Minister Sherif Ismail telephoned Awqaf Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Gomaa, who leads Egypt's hajj mission, to stand on the conditions of Egyptian pilgrims after the Mina stampede incident in which hundreds of pilgrims were killed and wounded.

Five operational rooms were set up following the incident to follow up the developments of the incident, Gomaa said.

No confirmation till now on Egyptian casualties, the minister said, adding that contacts were maintained with Saudi authorities.

The number of pilgrims who died in the stampede rose to 453, while 719 others were injured, according to the Saudi Civil Defense Service.

Civil defense teams, grouping some 4,000 members, were still on the ground leading pilgrims to safer routes away from the stampede.

Some of the Injured, being rushed to hospitals, were moved by helicopters, according to the service.

The crush took place at 7:30 a.m. on Street 204 of the camp city at Mina where pilgrims are stoning three pillars symbolizing the devil.

Hajj is an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. It is one of the five pillars of Islam and a religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim who can afford to do so at least once in his or her lifetime.

Source: MENA