At least 100 people were killed and 390 wounded during a stampede at the Hajj pilgrimage on Thursday, Saudi Arabian officials said.
“We have a stampede accident in Mina and civil defense is dealing with it,” Interior Ministry spokesman Brigadier General Mansour al-Turki told CNN.
The stampede occurred during the ritual known as “stoning the devil,” where crowds of pilgrims throw stones at a rock wall meant to symbolize a rejection of evil.
Mina is about 5 kilometers east of the holy city of Mecca.
The Hajj is one of the most celebrated events in the Islamic calendar and one of the world’s largest public gatherings.
For most Muslims, it is the spiritual climax of their lives, with many saving for decades to make the journey.
More than 2 million Muslims from around the world are attending events over several days at the annual pilgrimage.
Known as the fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj is an obligation upon every Muslim who has the financial means and the physical ability to perform it.
The pilgrimage, conducted over five days, includes detailed rituals such as wearing a special white garment that symbolizes human equality and unity before God; a circular procession around the Kaaba, Islam’s holiest shrine; and the symbolic stoning of evil