More that 220 people, taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mina, officials in Saudi Arabia say.
According to latest report 220 people have been confirmed dead
The civil defence directorate said on its Twitter feed that another 400 people were injured in the incident at Mina,
Rescue operations are reportedly under way, it added. The stampede occurred on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice.
Pilgrims this year have been undeterred by the collapse of a construction crane in Mecca earlier this month, which killed more than 100 people and injured at least 200. An investigation has been launched into the cause of the collapse amid claims the proper safeguards are ignored in the race to complete developments surrounding the Grand Mosque. Among the projects under construction is a 10,000-bed hotel.
Last week, more than 1000 pilgrims were evacuated from a hotel in Mecca in the early hours of the morning after a fire broke out.