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21 Cameroonians dead after a stampede at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca

Xinhua, September 26, 2015 Adjust font size:

Cameroon's Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralization (MINATD) and Chairman of the national El Hadj commission Emmanuel Rene Sadi said Saturday 21 Cameroonian pilgrims have been certified dead, many more wounded and several others missing during a big stampede that took place on Thursday at Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

He however said 123 others have been found and immediately taken care of by Cameroon's official delegation and the diplomatic mission in Saudia Arabia following the stampede that took place at the locality of Mina near Mecca, while searching is still going on for others missing.

Meanwhile, Cameroon's President Paul Biya has ordered that all necessary and appropriate measures be urgently taken to assist the affected pilgrims in different ways as required by each of their situation and the minister has expressed on behalf of the government the compassion of the entire nation to the deeply afflicted compatriots.

Saudi Arabia is currently conducting an investigation into the stampede at the annual Hajj pilgrimage leaving at least 719 people dead and 863 injured.

The Saudi Arabian interior ministry says the crush of Muslim pilgrims appears to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection. Endit