Pinoy among dead in hajj stampede

MANILA, Philippines - A Filipino was among more than 700 pilgrims killed Thursday in a stampede during one of the last rituals of the hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, the Department of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.

“The Philippine consulate general in Jeddah has confirmed that one Filipino pilgrim died in the stampede,” Foreign Affairs spokesman Charles Jose said in a text message to reporters.

Jose said “the personal circumstances of the victim are being withheld on the request of the family.”

The stampede occurred during the ritual known as the “stoning the devil” in a tent city in Mina, about two miles from the holy site in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city.

It was the deadliest incident to hit the annual hajj in years and the second this season, coming less than two weeks after 109 worshipers were killed when strong winds toppled a crane at Mecca’s Grand Mosque.

The annual hajj pilgrimage, which began on Tuesday, attracts around two million Muslims to Mecca. They converge in Mina yearly to throw stones at pillars representing the devil.