Deadly Sept 24 Mina stampede among deadliest Hajj disasters

At about 10:00pm (GMT +8) on Sept 24, the death toll from the Mina stampede during this year's Hajj pilgrimage stands at 717, with over 805 listed as injured.

Fingers of blame are already being pointed at the Saudi government for alleged mismanagement of the throngs of people fulfilling their vows during the pilgrimage and while an investigation will no doubt have to be carried out to ascertain the reason for the tragedy, this year's stampede is just another in a long line of similar disasters over the past few decades.

The stampede comes on the heels of a crane collapse in Mecca two weeks ago, in which more than 100 people were kiled, bringing the total deaths over the last fortnight to just under 1,000 people so far.

The incident occurred in Mina, located on the outskirts of Mecca, where pilgrims carry out the symbolic ritual of 'stoning the devil' by flinging pebbles at stone pillars. Over 2 million pilgrims are believed to have undertaken the pilgrimage to Mecca this year.

Three of the worst tragedies during the Hajj over the past quarter of a century include:

July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims died in a stampede in the Al-Ma'aisim tunnel, which leads from Mecca to Mina and the Plains of Arafat. Many of the victims were of Malaysian, Indonesia and Pakistani origin.

January 2006, when 346 people were killed after a busload of travellers arrived at the Jamaraat Bridge, causing pilgrims to trip and resulting in the lethal stampede.

May 1994, when 270 pilgrims were killed in a crush at the Jamaraat Bridge.

The Guardian, in a report on the 2006 disaster, compiled a more comprehensive list of Hajj stampedes while AlBawaba, in a report after the crane crash earlier this month, also compiled an in-depth list of tragedies in Mecca.