464 Iran pilgrims dead in Saudi hajj disaster, state media says
- 9 years ago
Iran's death toll from the Saudi hajj disaster has nearly doubled to 464 pilgrims killed, state media reported Thursday, a development that is likely to further strain ties between the Mideast rivals.
It wasn't immediately clear how the rise in the Islamic Republic's death toll, based on a hajj department statement posted on the website of Iranian state television, would affect the overall toll from the Sept. 24 disaster near Islam's holy city of Mecca.
Saudi Arabia's Healthy Ministry reported Saturday that the crush and stampede killed at least 769 pilgrims and injured 934.
Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Iran all have said the toll may be higher.
Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran's hajj department, later told state television that Iranian officials are trying to return bodies of Iranian pilgrims "as soon as possible."
He said Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed not to bury any of the dead in Saudi Arabia without prior permission by Iran or the families of the deceased.
It wasn't immediately clear how the rise in the Islamic Republic's death toll, based on a hajj department statement posted on the website of Iranian state television, would affect the overall toll from the Sept. 24 disaster near Islam's holy city of Mecca.
Saudi Arabia's Healthy Ministry reported Saturday that the crush and stampede killed at least 769 pilgrims and injured 934.
Pakistan, India, Indonesia and Iran all have said the toll may be higher.
Saeed Ohadi, the head of Iran's hajj department, later told state television that Iranian officials are trying to return bodies of Iranian pilgrims "as soon as possible."
He said Iran and Saudi Arabia have agreed not to bury any of the dead in Saudi Arabia without prior permission by Iran or the families of the deceased.