As has been reported elsewhere all morning, a stampede during the Hajj at Mecca has led to death and injury. The initial numbers were tragic, and the scope of the tragedy continues to grow.
Via CNN” Hajj stampede kills hundreds
At least 345 people have been killed in a stampede during a symbolic stoning ritual at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, according to the country’s health ministry.
Further, hundreds have been injured:
Government officials said 289 others were injured in the trampling near Mecca.
The CNN story linked above has video of the aftermath.
Sadly, this is not uncommon, and this year’s death toll (so far, at least) is no where near the worst:
The worst stampede happened in 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled to death.
James Joyner has more on recent such events.
The whole situation is quite terrible, and especially sad when one considers that many who died almost certainly were making their first trip to Mecca to fulfill their religious obligations and now will never return home to family and friends.
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