Mecca crane tragedy: Six Malaysian pilgrims injured

Six Malaysian haj pilgrims were injured after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque here Friday afternoon, killing at least 107 people.

Malaysian haj delegation chief Datuk Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said one of the Malaysian pilgrim broke a leg, while five others were slightly injured in the incident which occurred about 5 pm local time (10 pm Malaysian time).

He said the injured Malaysian pilgrims were four men and two women.

They were sent to the Tabung Haji (TH) Syisya Medical centre for treatment, he told reporters here.

He said TH would conduct room to room checks to ascertain the number of Malaysian pilgrims involved in the tragedy.

He said affected pilgrims' families and next of kin in Malaysia had been notified about the tragedy.

"A crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque during a sandstorm and heavy rain after the Asar prayer today. The crane fell on the saie area and part of the tawaf area.

"The whole Tabung Haji team, including medical, welfare and patrol squads, were in the Grand Mosque area when it happened.

"Right now, the scene is fully controlled by the Saudi authority," he said.

Today's downpour in Mecca was the fourth this month and was reported to be the heaviest and lasted about an hour.

Pilgrims' families in Malaysia can contact Tabung Haji hotline 03-62071919 for more information.