DUBAI (Sputnik) – Iranian and Moroccan nationals made up the majority of victims in the deadly stampede at this week’s pilgrimage near the Saudi city of Mecca, local media reported.
Up to 717 worshippers died and over 860 were injured on Thursday as hundreds of thousands pilgrims performed a ritual on the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
The dead included 131 of Iranian and 87 of Moroccan nationals, according to data compiled by the Bahraini Al-Wasat newspaper late on Friday.
The Central African nation of Cameroon lost 20 of its nationals during the "stoning-of-the-devil" ritual in Mina Valley, while Egypt and India each lost 14.
Pilgrims from a total of 18 countries fell victim to the event, considered dangerous because of the size of the crowds that often create bottlenecks around the holy site.
