Death toll in Saudi Arabia rises to 310

The death toll from a crush of pilgrims on Thursday during the annual Muslimhaj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 310 people of various nationalities, the Saudi civil defence said.

It said that civil defence teams were still trying to deal with the disaster, caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca. Another 450 pilgrims were wounded, it said.

The Hajj is an annual Islamicpilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.