Mina stampede death toll rises to 310

Al Arabia, citing Saudi Arabia Defence Force, has reported that 310 people have died and over 450 have been injured in a stampede involving hajj pilgrims in Mina.

A Maldivian pilgrim presently in Saudi Arabia tells Sun Online that no information has been received so far, of any Maldivians being hurt in the incident.

Saudi Defence Force says rescue efforts are under way following this tragic incident among pilgrims heading for the stoning ritual in Mina, close to Mecca.

According to Al Arabiya, the stampede happened at the entrance of the Jamarat bridge near Street 204, not inside of the pillars area.

“The injured have been distributed to four other hospitals in the Mina area. Some of the injured have been evacuated by helicopters to hospitals in Makkah city,” Al Arabiya News Channel’s correspondent Abdulrahman Al-Osaimi reporting from Mina emergency hospital said.