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3rd LD: Saudi stampede toll surges to 453

Xinhua, September 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Saudi authorities said the total number of pilgrims killed in the stampede Thursday in Mecca has risen to 453.

The number of injured has surged to 719, the Saudi Civil Defense authorities said on its Twitter account.

The victims included people from different countries. Iran's official IRNA news agency said at least 12 Iranian pilgrims were among the dead and 24 others among the injured.

The stampede happened amid a rush of the stoning as part of Hajj rituals. Muslim pilgrims throw stones on a wall representing devil.

The was the second major incident involving massive casualties this month in Saudi Arabia.

Early September, 111 pilgrims were killed and 331 others injured in a crane crash in the grand mosque of Mecca. Endit