Turkish death toll in Makkah stampede rises to seven

ANKARA

Saudi officials have recovered the bodies of four more Turkish victims of the deadly stampede on Sept. 12, bringing the total death toll of Turkish citizens to seven, sources said Friday.

Sources from Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate -- wishing not to be named -- identified the pilgrims as Satilmis Gencel, Sengul Arslan, Ismail Muzir, and Enver Karakulah.

They had gone missing following the stampede, which was the worst Hajj disaster in the last 25 years, leaving 769 pilgrims dead.

The stampede occurred near an intersection in Mina, around 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Makkah.

According to Saudi figures, more than two million Muslims from around the world participated in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The tragedy came two weeks after 107 people were killed by a crane that collapsed in Makkah’s Grand Mosque, which had been teeming with worshippers at the time of the accident.

ANKARA

Saudi officials have recovered the bodies of four more Turkish victims of the deadly stampede on Sept. 12, bringing the total death toll of Turkish citizens to seven, sources said Friday.

Sources from Turkey’s Religious Affairs Directorate -- wishing not to be named -- identified the pilgrims as Satilmis Gencel, Sengul Arslan, Ismail Muzir, and Enver Karakulah.

They had gone missing following the stampede, which was the worst Hajj disaster in the last 25 years, leaving 769 pilgrims dead.

The stampede occurred near an intersection in Mina, around 5 kilometers (3 miles) east of Makkah.

According to Saudi figures, more than two million Muslims from around the world participated in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.

The tragedy came two weeks after 107 people were killed by a crane that collapsed in Makkah’s Grand Mosque, which had been teeming with worshippers at the time of the accident.