On 24 September 2015, a stampede resulted in the deaths of at least 717 pilgrims and injured 863 others during the annual Hajj in Mecca. It is the deadliest accident to occur in the Hajj since the 1990 stampede that killed 1,426 people. The Saudi Civil Defence directorate announced the deployment of 4,000 personnel to the stampede site alongside 220 emergency response units. Pilgrims were redirected away from the stampede site. The Saudi Red Crescent was also mobilised and the injured are being treated at four hospitals.
According to a statement by the Saudi civil defence directorate, the stampede occurred at 09:00 Mecca time (06:00 UTC) at the junction between street 204 and 223 as pilgrims were en route to the Jamaraat Bridge. A sudden increase in pilgrim numbers heading towards the pillars of Mina triggered the stampede. The junction lay between two pilgrim camp sites. An estimated 160,000 tents are distributed across several camp sites in Mina.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.
It is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside Shahadah, Salat, Zakat, and Sawm. The gathering during Hajj is considered the largest annual gathering of people in the world. The state of being physically and financially capable of performing the Hajj is called istita'ah, and a Muslim who fulfills this condition is called a mustati. The Hajj is a demonstration of the solidarity of the Muslim people, and their submission to God (Allah). The word Hajj means "to intend a journey", which connotes both the outward act of a journey and the inward act of intentions.
