Death Toll in Hadj Stampede Rises, Cameroonians Feared Among TheDead

The death toll in Thursday's stampede in Mecca has risen to over 750. The huge stampede injured hundreds more at the hajj in Saudi Arabia on Thursday September 24, 2015, in one of the worst-ever tragedies at the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

Some online reports state that as many as ten Cameroonians are among the dead,
but this is yet to be officially confirmed.

According to Saudi officials, during the ceremonial stone throwing a stampede broke out causing 'a sudden increase in the number of pilgrims heading towards the pillars'.

An eye-witness at te scene, a reporter, Tchima Illa Issoufou, recounted the carnage that unfolded, "People were going towards the direction of throwing the stones while others were coming from the opposite direction. Then it became chaotic and suddenly people started going down." The stampede, the second deadly accident to hit the pilgrims this month following a crane collapse in Mecca, broke out during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual.