This matter was confirmed by Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki.
The 11.30am (Arab Saudi time) incident in Mina happened when Muslims were performing the Haj, the fifth pillar in Islam.
PHOTO GALLERY: Stampede in Mina
Death toll
As at 8.44pm (GMT) the Saudi Civil Defense Department official Twitter page confirmed that 717 people were killed.
At 7.20pm (GMT), the Saudi Civil Defense Department official Twitter page confirmed that 453 people were killed.
Injured
A total of 863 pilgrims were injured in the incident.
Emergency response team
According to Al Arabiya English news channel, the civil defense team also said that around 4,000 members of their emergency response team - along with the Red Cross - were deployed to the scene to help lead pilgrims to safer routes away from the stampede.
How did it happen?
The High weather temperature led to the fall of stampede victims, according to Al Arabiya English news channel, citing a Saudi spokesman.
Where did the incident happen?
At the entrance of the Jamarat Bridge near Road 204 , which is the main route of pilgrims to the stoning area in Mina.
Following is a list of disasters which occurred in Mecca during the Haj:
• July 2, 1990: An overcrowded pedestrian tunnel which connects Mecca and Madinah collapsed and claimed the lives of 1,426 pilgrims. A total of 19 Malaysian pilgrims also died in the incident.
• July 31, 1987: A protest by pilgrims from Iran resulted in 400 deaths.
• Jan 12, 2006: More than 360 pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the desert plain of Mina, where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls.
• April 15, 1997: A fire at a camp where pilgrims stayed took 343 lives.
• May 23, 1994: A stampede in Mina when a stoning incident happened caused 270 deaths.
• Feb 1, 2004: A total of 244 pilgrims died in another stoning incident happened caused 270 deaths.
Jan 6, 2006: Four pilgrims from Malaysia were among those killed when a hotel in Al Ghazzah near the Masjidilharam collapsed , killing 76 people.
Najib offers condolences
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims involved in the stampede in Mina.
DPM expresses grief over stampede
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi expressed grief over the stampede in Mina today through his twitter account.
White House voices condolences
The White House on Thursday offered condolences after a "heartbreaking" stampede in Saudi Arabia.
"The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the hundreds of Hajj pilgrims killed and hundreds more injured in the heartbreaking stampede in Mina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.
Investigation
Saudi crown prince, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, orders probe into deadly hajj stampede in Mina.
