DFA: No Filipino casualties in hajj stampede

NO Filipino casualties were reported so far in the stampede at the annual Muslim hajj in Saudi Arabia, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday.

“According to our Embassy in Riyadh, there are so far no reports of Filipinos involved in the stampede but they are still confirming with all the hajj groups,” DFA spokesman Charles Jose said in a statement.

Saudi authorities said over 300 people were killed in the stampede as of posting time.

The stampede came weeks after a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca’s Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia, leaving more than 100 killed.

The accident happened as millions of Muslim pilgrims are expected to visit Saudi Arabia this September for the yearly hajj pilgrimage.

Saudi medics tend to injured pilgrims after they arrived at an emergency hospital following a deadly stampede in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, on the first day of Eid al-Adha on September 24, 2015. At least 310 people were killed and hundreds wounded during a stampede at the annual hajj in Saudi Arabia, in the second tragedy to strike the pilgrims this year. AFP