Egypt Death Toll from Hajj Disaster Rises to 55
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Egypt says 55 of its citizens are among the hundreds of people who died in a crush of Muslim pilgrims during this year's hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Minister of Religious Endowments Mohammed Mokhtar Gomaa said on Sunday that 120 Egyptian pilgrims are still missing and 26 are receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the disaster in the town of Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, the Associated Press reported.
Hundreds of people died when two large waves of pilgrims converged on a narrow road, in the deadliest event on the annual pilgrimage in a quarter-century.
Around 2 million people from 180 countries are participating in the hajj this year. The pilgrimage is a main pillar of Islam to be undertaken by Muslims who are able at least once in their lifetimes.
