LOC18:55
15:55 GMT
MINA, Saudi Arabia, Sept 24 (KUNA) -- Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Naif bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud has instructed the formation of a high-level investigation committee to investigate reasons behind the Hajj stampede incident so as to forward the results to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, official media reported Thursday.
During an extraordinary meeting, Prince Mohammed, who is also Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior, and Chairman of Hajj Higher Committee, discussed with security leaders the real causes that led to the stampede, in which over 700 people were announced dead and more than 800 others injured, according to Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Up to 717 pilgrims died and 863 were wounded in the Hajj stampede in Mina, according to latest figures posted by the Saudi Civil Defense.
The dead belonged to a variety of nationalities and that the counting of the dead and injured is ongoing.
Four thousands civil defense personnel and 220 emergency and rescue vehicles are still at the scene of the stampede, said the Saudi Civil Defense. (end)
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