This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34226003

The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Mecca crane collapse: 65 dead in Saudi Arabia Mecca crane collapse: 65 dead in Saudi Arabia
(35 minutes later)
The death toll from the collapse of a crane in the Muslim holy city of Mecca has risen to 65, Saudi Arabia's civil defence authority has said. At least 65 people have died after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Arabian government has said.
Eighty people were injured when the crane fell on the Grand Mosque, the civil defence authority tweeted. More than 150 people were injured in the accident, the country's civil defence authority said on Twitter.
Few other details are available. Images from the scene showed part of a huge red crane had crashed through the roof of the mosque. It is not known what caused the accident, but images from the scene showed part of a huge red crane had crashed through the mosque's roof.
Mecca is preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage. Mecca is currently preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to arrive in the Saudi city from all over the world later this month.Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to arrive in the Saudi city from all over the world later this month.
Construction work has been going on at the Grand Mosque for years to make it big enough to cope with the huge numbers of people who come each year, the BBC's Arab Affairs analyst Sebastian Usher says. Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to cope with ever-growing numbers of worshippers.
The crane that collapsed on Friday was part of the construction work taking place at the site.
Reports suggested the crane fell during high winds. The Arabian peninsula has been has been hit by strong sand storms over the past week.
The mosque is Islam's most sacred site and the destination for millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage every year.
At the heart of the mosque, the oldest parts of which date to the 16th century, is the Kaaba, a black cube-shaped building which Muslims all over the world face when they pray.
Islam requires that every Muslim capable of doing so performs a pilgrimage to the site at least once in their lifetime. Once at the mosque, pilgrims perform Tawaf - walking seven times around the Kaaba in a counter-clockwise direction.
Are you in Mecca? Were you in the area where the crane collapsed? If you are safe and willing to share your story please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways:
Or comment here@