10 deadliest mishaps around Haj in 40 years

Every year, millions of Muslims around the world converge on the Saudi holy cities of Mecca and Medina for the annual Haj pilgrimage, with grand ceremonies representing a major security and logistical challenge for that kingdom’s authorities.

The Haj and the events surrounding it have often been marred by accidents and tragedies, such as Thursday’s stampede in which more than 700 people died near Mecca, a day before this year’s Eid-ul-Zuha.

While this was one of the deadliest Haj tragedies in terms of casualties, mishaps are not new to the annual Muslim pilgrimage. Only a few days ago, there had been a crane collapse in Mecca during the symbolic stoning-of-the-devil ritual.

Here is a brief look at the 10 worst Haj accidents in the past 40 years:

1. Dec 1975

A cooking gas cylinder explodes in the prilgrim tent city (Mina), causing a fire that kills over 200 pilgrims.

2. Jul 1987

Iranian protesters clash with Saudi police, leading to deaths of more than 400 Iranian pilgrims.

3. Jul 1990

Inside the al-Muaissem tunnel near Mecca, 1,426 pilgrims are crushed to death. The accident takes place on the day of Eid-ul-Zuha.

4. May 1994

A stampede near Jamarat Bridge in Mina, near Mecca, kills 270 in the area where pilgrims ritually stone the devil.

5. Apr 1997

343 pilgrims are killed in a tent fire at the Haj camp at Mina, prompting the government to construct a permanent, fireproof tent city there.

6. Apr 1998

119 Muslim pilgrims are crushed to death in Saudi Arabia at the Haj.

7. Feb 2004 

A stampede kills 251 Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia near the Jamarat Bridge during the stoning of the devil.

8. Jan 2006 

More than 360 pilgrims are killed in a stampede at the desert plain of Mina, during the symbolic stoning of the devil. The day before the Haj began, an eight-storey building being used as a hostel near the Grand Mosque in Mecca had collapsed, killing at least 73 people.

9. Sep 11, 2015

At least 111 crushed to death as a crane crashes into the Grand Mosque, the biggest in the world, just weeks before the Haj.

10. Sep 24, 2015

More than 700 die in a stampede as pilgrims move from the camp at Mina to the Jamarat bridge.