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Mecca crane collapse: 87 dead in Saudi Arabia Mecca crane collapse: 87 dead in Saudi Arabia
(35 minutes later)
At least 87 people have died after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the Saudi Arabian government has said. At least 87 people died and more than 180 people were injured when a crane collapsed in the Muslim holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
More than 180 people were injured in the accident, the country's civil defence authority said on Twitter. The huge red crane crashed into a part of the Grand Mosque - the largest in the world - that was filled with worshippers at the time.
Images from the scene showed part of a huge red crane crashed through the mosque's roof. The cause of the collapse is not known. The head of Saudi Arabia's civil defence said strong winds and heavy rains had caused the collapse.
Mecca is currently 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.
Reports suggested the crane fell on the east side of the mosque following high winds and rain. The Arabian peninsula has been has been hit by strong sand storms over the past week. The collapse happened at 17:23 local time (15:23 GMT), said Director-General of the Saudi Civil Defence, Lt Sulayman Bin-Abdullah al-Amr.
It happened at a time when many worshippers were there for Friday prayers.
Shortly before the crash, the city had been hit by unusually high levels of rainfall and winds of up to 83kph, Mr Amr said.
A video posted on YouTube, which could not be independently verified, appeared to record the moment the crane fell, with a loud crash heard in the background followed by panic and shouting.A video posted on YouTube, which could not be independently verified, appeared to record the moment the crane fell, with a loud crash heard in the background followed by panic and shouting.
Images circulating on Twitter appeared to show numerous bodies and blood on the floor of the mosque. Images circulating on Twitter showed what looked like numerous bodies and blood on the floor of the mosque.
The mosque is the largest in the world and the destination for millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage every year. Mr Amr said an investigation was being carried out to assess the extent of the damage, and the "extent of the safety of these sites".
Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to increase the area of the mosque by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet), to allow it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once. Mecca is preparing to welcome Muslims from around the world for the annual Hajj pilgrimage, which begins in about 10 days' time.
More than three million people undertook the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 2012. Saudi authorities have taken steps in 2013 to limit the number of people involved. Large numbers of people have resulted in several tragedies over the years, including a stampede in 2006 that killed nearly 350 people. Islam requires that every Muslim capable of doing so performs a pilgrimage to the site at least once in their lifetime.
At the heart of the Grand Mosque is the Kaaba, Islam's most sacred site, a black cube-shaped building which Muslims all over the world face when they pray. Saudi authorities began a major expansion of the site last year to increase the area of the mosque by 400,000 square metres (4.3 million square feet), to allow it to accommodate up to 2.2 million people at once.
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. More than three million people undertook the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in 2012. Saudi authorities have taken steps since 2013 to limit the number of people involved. Large numbers of people have resulted in several tragedies over the years, including a stampede in 2006 that killed nearly 350 people.
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.ukAre 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
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