On 2 July 1990, 1,426 people were suffocated and trampled to death in a crowd crush or stampede event in a tunnel near Mecca during the Hajj.(24 Sep 2015). More than 700 pilgrims die in crush in worst haj disaster for 25 years , Reuters
Event The incident occurred inside a and pedestrian tunnel (tunnel Al-Ma'aisim) leading out from Mecca towards Mina and the Plains of Arafat. The tunnel had been worked on as part of a $15 billion project around Mecca's holy sites started two years earlier by the Saudi government.(5 July 1990). Pilgrimage Ends; Iran rips Saudis , Eugene Register-Guard (Associated Press)
While pilgrims were traveling to perform the ritual Stoning of the Devil at 10:00 a.m.(16 July 1990). Saudi Arabia A Tragic Ascension to Paradise , Time (magazine) (subscription required) The disaster started when a pedestrian bridge railing was bent, causing seven people to fall off a bridge and onto people exiting the tunnel.(4 July 1990). Witnesses describe stampede that killed 1,400 pilgrims in Mecca , Bangor Daily News (Associated Press) The tunnel's capacity of 1,000 soon filled with as many as 5,000 people.Mahmoud, Aly (5 July 1990). `Stoning The Devil' Began Mecca's Tunnel Tragedy, Seattle Times (Associated Press) With outside temperatures of , a failure of the tunnel's ventilation system was also blamed for many of the deaths.(6 July 1990). Horror revisted , Gainesville Sun Some witnesses claimed they believed a demonstration was occurring; others reported that the power to the tunnel was deactivated.(10 July 1990). Filipino Pilgrims Among Victims of Mecca Tunnel Tragedy , UCA News Saudi officials concluded that crowd hysteria occurring from the falling pilgrims was the cause.Middle East Contemporary Survey: 1990, Volume 14; Volume 1990 , p. 190
Many who died were of Malaysian,(19 July 1990). Saudis yet to accept our offer of experts , New Straits Times (93 Malaysians confirmed dead by 19 July 1990. Final number grew) Indonesian and Pakistani origin.(3 July 1990). 1,000 Muslims Reportedly Killed In Stampede at Mecca Pilgrimage , The New York Times (Associated Press) According to one Malaysian account, 80 percent of the deaths occurred outside the tunnel, and 20 percent (about 285) inside.(18 July 1990). Tunnel tragedy death toll may reach 155, says Yusof , New Straits Times Among the victims was Âmil Çelebioğlu, a professor of Turkish literature and language.
Reactions Immediately after the event, King Fahd stated that the event was "God's will, which is above everything", adding that "had they not died there, they would have died elsewhere and at the same predestined moment".(3 July 1990). Stampede kill 1,400 , Rome News-Tribune About 680 of those who died were Indonesians, and Indonesian officials criticized the Saudi government, saying it "cannot run from the responsibility for the tunnel disaster simply saying it was an act of God".Ibrahim, Youssef M. (19 July 1990). Saudis Criticized Over Mecca Tunnel Disaster , The New York Times Iran also expressed concerns after the incident,(15 July 1990). Iran says Saudis killed pilgrims Reading Eagle (Reuters) and Turkey issued a brief complaint. Calls for an international investigation were rejected by the Saudis.
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