A group of Indonesian pilgrims stone pillars symbolizing Satan in Mina.
Posted on 01/22/2005 5:32:05 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
MAKKAH, January 22 (IslamOnline.net) – At least ten pilgrims died and 30 others sustained injuries Saturday, January 22, in a minor stampede at the Jamarat stoning site in Mina.
“Some ten pilgrims died and 30 others were injured earlier today (Saturday) in Mina,” IslamOnline.net’s correspondent quoted eyewitnesses as saying.
Around 2.5 million pilgrims have poured into the Jamarat area since Thursday, January 20, the first day of the stoning ritual and the start of `Eid al-Adha.
Saudi Arabia has revamped the Jamarat area, where pilgrims amass to stone pillars symbolizing Satan, after a stampede tragedy last hajj killed 251 pilgrims.
Hajj Minister Iyad Bin Amin Madani said last week that the new changes included new emergency exits at the place where the pilgrims throw Jamrat Al-Aqabah.
The authorities also changed the circular shape of the Jamrat fence into oval and the horizontal pillars into vertical.
They have further installed four surveillance cameras around the Jamrat bridge to avert potential stampedes.
There have been many deadly stampedes in the past. In 2003, 14 pilgrims, including six women, were killed during the first day of the stoning ritual, 35 in 2001 and 118 in 1998.
The worst toll was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a stampede in a tunnel in Mina.
Pilgrims hurl seven pebblesfrom behind a fence or from the overhead bridge every day for three days at each of the three 18-metre (58-foot) high concrete pillars.
Torrential rain
Meanwhile, unseasonable heavy rains caused unexpected crowding and traffic jams in Makkah and Mina.
Torrential rain flooded the streets and uprooted pilgrims’ tents in Mina, says IOL correspondent.
The downpour also destroyed a main tunnel used by pilgrims in Mina which could trigger a serious traffic jam, with many of the pilgrims running for cover and seeking shelter, adds our correspondent.
Police and civil defense forces immediately rushed to the area to help the faithful.
Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can physically and financially afford the trip must perform hajj, one of the “five pillars” of Islam, once in their lifetime.
Official figures put the total number of pilgrims performing last year's hajj at 1,892,710, with 1,419,706 from abroad and 473,004 Saudis and other Muslim residents of the kingdom.
A group of Indonesian pilgrims stone pillars symbolizing Satan in Mina.
I was wondering how many of them would get trampled this year.
Well, at least no women were killed since they are not alowed. But they will make up for that by killing part of them with female genital mutilation or just outright killing them on a whim. If they are rally pissed shooting them in the back of the head if they have a soccer field handy is always an option.....
FMCDH(BITS)
This is so awful. Just 10, huh?
I also heard that there was a shrimp stampede at Ponderosa.
Oh Allah (PB&J), the compassionate and merciful...can't you keep those lunatics that comprise your church from stepping all over each other...I guess they aren't as compassionate as you are, "moon god".
Yes. Sounds 'minor' to me. /sarcasm
They report that thirty died but I bet the number is a lot higher than that.
Hey, Jack!
Which way's Mecca?
Attending Allahpalooza is risky.
Is there such a thing? If so, I would think it would be referred to as a stampette......
Allahpalooza!.....ROFL....sweet.
Allah: Curses and (Pig)Piss Be Upon Him.....
Spain has the running of the bulls....and Muslims have the running of the Muslims.
Not so fast there... 
CROWD OF WOMEN, yelling.
"This is so awful. Just 10, huh?"
LOL
I don't know why everyone gets so bent out of shape about this. The same thing happened at the Sermon on the Mount....Oh wait, no it didn't.
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