Iranian Authorities Searching for Missed Pilgrims after Mina Incident
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Relevant Iranian officials are seeking to find nationals still missing a day after deadly stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, in which over 1,300 people, including 131 Iranian were killed so far.
Speaking on Friday, Head of Iran’s Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization Saeed Ohadi said a committee has been form for the identification of injured nationals in Saudi hospitals.
He said a number of injured pilgrims have been transferred to other Saudi cities such as Jeddah, Taif and Riyadh, and a committee has been set up to search for injured Iranian pilgrims in Mina.
He said that 15 other injured Iranian pilgrims were identified in Mecca hospitals.
Ohadi said that according to latest statistics issued by Saudi officials, the number of dead victims of Mina disaster is around 2,000.
He noted that 85 Iranians were injured in the Mina disaster, 55 of them are hospitalized in the Iranian Hospitals in Saudi Arabia, 30 in various Saudi hospitals outside Mecca, and 15 in Saudi hospitals in Mecca.
At least 1300 pilgrims were killed Thursday in a stampede in Mina outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, which was the worst disaster to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.
This is while, the death toll from the stampede is likely to increase, with hundreds still missing.
After the tragic event, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei declared 3 days of national mourning in Iran, asking Saudi authorities to accept responsibility of the incident.
The Hajj, the world’s largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of numerous deadly stampedes, fires and riots in the past.
Safety during Hajj is a politically sensitive issue for the kingdom’s ruling Al Saud dynasty, which presents itself internationally as the custodian of its holiest places in Mecca and Medina.
