Istanbul (dpa) – The number of people who died during a crush at last month’s haj pilgrimage is more than double the official figure reported by host country Saudi Arabia, according to a dpa tally.
The figures indicate that more than 1,800 Muslim pilgrims died in the stampede September 24 during a stone-throwing ritual in the holy city of Mina near Mecca.
Saudi Arabia has placed the death toll at 769.
dpa collated statistics from 28 countries whose citizens were killed in the incident, using official figures and media reports. The number of deaths came to 1,807, making the 2015 haj tragedy the worst on record. Dozens of other pilgrims are still missing.
In 1990, 1,426 pilgrims died in a stampede inside a tunnel after its ventilation system broke down.
Predominantly Shiite Iran was the worst hit with 465 deaths in September’s stampede. Other countries that suffered significant losses included Egypt at 181, Mali at 173, Nigeria at 165, Indonesia at 127, India at 114, Pakistan at 99 and Bangladesh at 79.
The haj deaths have exacerbated tensions between Iran and its regional rival with Iran accusing the Saudis of incompetence in handling the pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.
Saudi Arabia hit back, claiming that Iranians did not observe safety regulations and saying Tehran was using the incident to score political points.
Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz ordered an investigation into the incident and promised swift results.
The stampede occurred on the third day of the five-day haj as the faithful jostled to reach a multilevel structure to throw pebbles in a symbolic stoning of the devil.
Muslims are expected to perform the pilgrimage at least once during their lifetimes if they have the financial and physical means to do so. More than 2 million made the pilgrimage this year.
