Despite Saudi Arabia’s efforts to avoid fatal accidents during the annual pilgrimage, or Hajj, the holy event Mena has witnessed many disasters, including yesterday’s stampede that claimed the largest number of lives in 16 years.
Disasters in recent years at the annual pilgrimage, of Hajj, in Saudi Arabia;
• Jan. 12, 2006: More than 345 pilgrims crushed to death and hundreds more wounded when some pilgrims tripped over dropped luggage as they rushed to throw stones at pillars representing the devil in Mena.
• Feb. 1, 2004: 244 pilgrims killed and many more injured in a similar stampede during the devil-stoning ritual.
• March 5, 2001: 35 died in a crush during devil-stoning.
• April 9, 1998: About 180 pilgrims are crushed to death after they panicked several worshippers fell off an overpass during the stoning of the devil ritual.
• April 15, 1997: Fires driven by high winds tear through tents at Mena, killing more than 340 pilgrims and wounding 1,500. But aid workers said at the time that the death toll was at least 500.
• May 23, 1994: 270 pilgrims, mainly from Indonesia, died in a stampede during devil-stoning.
• July 2, 1990: 1,426 pilgrims, many from Malaysia, Indonesia and Pakistan, were killed in the holy city of Mecca in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites. The worst Hajj disaster of modern times.
• July 9, 1989: Two bombs hit the holy city of Mecca, killing one pilgrim and injuring 16 others. The Saudi government later beheaded 16 Kuwaitis for the attacks.
• July 31, 1987: More than 400 pilgrims, mainly Iranians, were killed and 649 injured in Mecca when Saudi security forces clashed with some Iranians staging an anti-U.S. demonstration.