PHOTO: The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani

GCC chief expresses sorrow over Hajj stampede incident

24/09/2015

RIYADH-- The Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Dr. Abdullatif Al-Zayani expressed his deep sadness and sorrow Thursday over the death and injury of a large number of pilgrims in the tragic Hajj stampede incident that took place in Mina earlier.

Al-Zayani, in a statement, expressed his deep condolences to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, the Saudi government, and victims' families, in addition to governments of the Muslim world, praying to Allah Almighty to bestow his mercy upon the deceased victims and place them in his heaven, and grant the injured with speedy recovery.

Up to 717 pilgrims died and 863 were wounded in the Hajj stampede in Mina, according to latest figures posted by the Saudi Civil Defense.

The dead belonged to a variety of nationalities and that the counting of the dead and injured is ongoing.

Four thousands civil defense personnel and 220 emergency and rescue vehicles are still at the scene of the stampede, said the Saudi Civil Defense.