717 deaths at Hajj.

[ZenOps]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/...0RO0RN20150924

Fervor favors those who are closest to the stone.

[n1zm0]

Doesn't this happen every year apparently? This year being the worst unfortunately. I read they tried to make the stoning portion more efficient with dealing sifting the crowds, obviously that didn't work out :/

[bjstare]

Natural selection.


I'm not biased for or against the religion, but damn. Just have some foresight. People die at this shit every year, maybe don't go? And if your religion dictates that you have to risk your life to do this shit, maybe re-evaluate your choices?

[sputnik]

118 also died a couple of weeks ago when a crane collapsed in Mecca.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/mecca-s...apse-1.3225689

[sputnik]

Originally posted by cjblair
Natural selection.

I'm not biased for or against the religion, but damn. Just have some foresight. People die at this shit every year, maybe don't go? And if your religion dictates that you have to risk your life to do this shit, maybe re-evaluate your choices?

Not being able to eat bacon is reason enough for me to not convert to Islam.

[lilmira]

bacon tastes good, pork chops taste good, getting stepped on doesn't sound good, the end.

[ExtraSlow]

Shit, with how beef prices have gone up, I can't afford to eat much except pork these days.

On a more serious note, traditions are tough to regulate without removing the mystique. Can you imagine how uninspiring it would be to have to make an appointment and to arrive in a nearly empty square? I think a big part of what draws folks to this is the fact that they are so physically close to so many other pilgrims, and thus they feel a spiritual closeness as well.

The Saudi Government has introduced a bunch of safety measures over the last decade or so. But there's only so much you can do with two an a half million people in a relatively small space. They already set limits on how many can attend from certain countries.

Salam brothers.

[sabad66]

Perhaps it is still too early in the morning for me, but wtf does "killed in a crush" mean? Were they trampled by a big stampede of people? Crushed by something that fell?

Either way this is pretty crazy when you think about it... 717 people dead + 863 injured at something that is supposed to be a celebration? I bet a lot of those people were kids that just accompanied their parents and didn't know what was going on. Pretty sad.

[Feruk]

In the Calgary Puck forum, the title for this thread is "Saudi Arabia Stampede"

[revelations]

Apparently, to die at an event like this is considered, by some, to be honourable ....

[Tik-Tok]

Originally posted by sabad66
Perhaps it is still too early in the morning for me, but wtf does "killed in a crush" mean? Were they trampled by a big stampede of people? Crushed by something that fell?

This is the Hajj, massive crowds walk around it in a circle, those that died fell while walking, and were just trampled over.


» Click image for larger version

[revelations]

^ Um no, the crowds were heading to the stoning of the Devil, on Jamaraat Bridge .....

[HiTempguy1]

I don't understand why the people died? None of the news articles explain n: God damn journalism these days.

I mean, I get a large crowd of people were complete dickheads and stomped on others to death, but WHY?

[codetrap]

.

[BavarianBeast]

» Click image for larger version

[Quizzes]

Mecca has got to be the most dangerous place on Earth.

[BavarianBeast]

Originally posted by Quizzes
Mecca has got to be the most dangerous place on Earth.

1990: The worst hajj-related tragedy claims the lives of 1,426 pilgrims in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca.
1994: Some 270 pilgrims are killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual at Mina.
1997: At least 340 pilgrims are killed in a fire at the tent city of Mina as the blaze was aided by high winds. More than 1,500 were injured.
1998: About 180 pilgrims are trampled to death in panic after several of them fell off an overpass during the final stoning ritual at Mina.
2001: A stampede at Mina during the final day of the pilgrimage ceremonies kills 35 hajj pilgrims.
2004: A crush of pilgrims at Mina kills 244 pilgrims and injures hundreds on the final day of the hajj ceremonies.
2006: More than 360 pilgrims are killed in a stampede at the desert plain of Mina, near Mecca, where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls. The day before the hajj began, an eight-story building being used as a hostel near the Grand Mosque in Mecca collapsed, killing at least 73 people.
2015: This

[Aleks]

Originally posted by HiTempguy1
I don't understand why the people died? None of the news articles explain n: God damn journalism these days.

I mean, I get a large crowd of people were complete dickheads and stomped on others to death, but WHY?

When a huge group of people starts to move you have no choice but to keep going. If you fall down you're dead. I doubt anyone was being dickheads.

[GorG]

video of the aftermath
NSFW

[max_boost]

Happy and grateful to be in Canaduh.