MECCA, Saudi Arabia – The death toll from a stampede during the annual hajj has risen to 769, the Saudi health minister said on Saturday, September 26.
Khaled al-Falih also told reporters the number of injured had risen to 934.
An initial toll after Thursday's tragedy during a ritual of the symbolic stoning of the devil was 717 dead and 863 hurt, according to Saudi officials.
The authorities have yet to provide a breakdown of the nationalities of pilgrims killed in the stampede, as the difficult process of identification continues.
But several foreign countries, largely African and Asian, have announced deaths. (READ: 14 Indonesians dead in Hajj stampede)
Only around 250 deaths in total have been officially confirmed by foreign officials.
The stampede was the most deadly incident in a quarter-century at the hajj, which attracted almost two million pilgrims from around the world.
They were completing their final rituals on Saturday before going home. – Rappler.com