Saudi hajj disaster toll increases with Iran’s 465 dead

Associated Press

TEHRAN, IRAN

The death toll in the Saudi hajj disaster rose sharply Thursday as Iran announced 465 of its pilgrims died in last week’s stampede and crush, nearly doubling its earlier count and likely further straining relations between the two Mideast rivals.

And while Saudi officials previously said the tragedy killed 769 pilgrims, an Associated Press count based on official figures from countries around the world shows at least 999 people perished near Islam’s holy city of Mecca.

The total figure could be even larger as the AP survey covered only 15 of the more than 180 countries that sent some 2 million pilgrims to the annual pilgrimage, a pillar of Islamic faith. Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Iran all have said the toll may be higher than what the kingdom has presented.

Saudi officials could not be immediately reached Thursday to discuss the AP’s survey, though they have launched an investigation into what caused the tragedy. Faisal Alzahrani, the Health Ministry’s general director of communications, told the AP on Tuesday that his office’s figure of 769 killed and 934 injured in Mina remained accurate, though civil defense authorities would announce future totals.

Among all countries, Shiite power Iran appears for now to have lost the most pilgrims. According to the AP count, nearly 600 people from around the world remain missing in Saudi Arabia after the Sept. 24 disaster.

The Iranian state news agency IRNA published a list Thursday night of the 465 pilgrims it said died at Mina.

Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran’s hajj department, told state television Thursday that Iranian officials are trying to return bodies of Iranian pilgrims “as soon as possible.” He said Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed not to bury any of the dead in Saudi Arabia without prior permission by Iran or the families of the deceased.

A state television newscaster said missing Iranian pilgrims who remain unaccounted for are included in this latest toll.

Saudi authorities have said the disaster in Mina happened as two waves of pilgrims converged on a narrow road, causing hundreds of people to suffocate or be trampled to death.