At least 244 Muslim pilgrims were crushed to death and the same number injured in a stampede at the climax of the annual haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia today.
Pilgrimage Affairs and Endowments Minister Iyad bin Amin Madani said: "There were 244 pilgrims who died in the incident in Jamarat and 244 who were injured".
"Some pilgrims were not organised and there was a crush this morning by people carrying personal belongings which caused obstacles," the minister added.
The disaster happened after around two million pilgrims flocked to Jamarat Bridge in Mena to throw pebbles at pillars representing the devil.
Mr Madani said the movement of pilgrims from had been well-controlled between midnight and 8.30 a.m. before the start of the crush.
"I assure you that all the preparations are always made, but we don't always know God's intentions. What happened will be evaluated," he said.
The minister said another 272 pilgrims had died of natural causes during the haj.
The pilgrimage is a duty for every able-bodied Muslim once in a lifetime who can afford it.
The haj has witnessed deadly stampedes almost every year. In 1990, 1,426 pilgrims were crushed to death in a pedestrian tunnel at the holy city of Mecca. Last year 14 people were trampled to death. In 2001, 35 people died in a stampede at the bridge and 119 were killed in a similar incident in 1998.