Security personnel started removing pilgrims’ tents at the site of the stampede to create a larger space for easier access of ambulances and Civil Defense teams, according to a security officer at the site of the accident.
“As you see, the space is very small and we need to facilitate transportation. We did not remove all the pilgrims’ tents, but some of them must be removed. We have closed the area to allow ambulances to get inside the location,” the officer told Arab News.
“This accident was horrible due to the limited space in the area. However, the other sites which are close to Al-Jamarat are safe,” he added.
Meanwhile, security authorities in Mina forced all pilgrims who were sleeping on the roads to leave immediately their places on all roads in Mina.
At the same time, ambulances continued over the evening to transfer the injured to hospitals in Makkah in addition to King Abdullah Medical City in Makkah.
A number of pilgrims who were near the site of the stampede expressed their shock after seeing pilgrims’ bodies. They described the event as an “unbelievable accident.”
“I do not want to remember this accident that took place in the morning. Security authorities immediately closed all roads that led to the site after the accident and forced us to leave. Many old pilgrims lost their lives as the result of huge crowds who were leaving Jamrat and those who were coming there,” Salem Abdul Aziz, a Sudanese pilgrim, said.
“It was expected as huge numbers of pilgrims came to the Jamrat at the same time. I left Jamrat without throwing stones after feeling that something could happen,” Alaa Shahata, an Egyptian pilgrim said.
“When I was coming to the Jamrat, I was told about this accident and was advised to go back to my tent; I postponed throwing stones until late at night on Thursday,” Yahia Mahmoud, a Saudi pilgrim said.
