Health Minister Khaled al-Falih was quoted by El-Ekhbariya television as saying "many pilgrims move without respecting the timetables" established by authorities, which was the "principal reason for this type of accident." “If the pilgrims had followed instructions, this type of accident could have been avoided”, he said.
Among the casualties of the incident, which happened on first day of the Eid al-Adha festival (24 September), are at least 43 Iranian nationals. Iranian officials accused Saudi Arabia of mismanagement and lack of safety in the aftermath of the tragedy.
At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed, 805 injured in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca.
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