These Images From Masjid Al-Haram Show The Full Extent Of The Heartbreaking Tragedy
Just 10 days before Hajj, the annual pilgrimage that would bring in about two million Muslims from around world to Mecca, a disastrous incident causes dozens to die.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 13 Sep 2015, 12:57 PM
On the holiest day of the week for Muslims, a gigantic construction crane collapsed over Masjid Al-Haram at 5:23 p.m. local time, yesterday, just hours before the jummah khutbah (Friday sermon)
According to Khaled Al Maeena, editor-in-chief of the Saudi Gazette, if the crane had collapsed an hour later, thousands would have been affected by it, as reported by CNN.
Masjid Al-Haram would usually be brimming with people, ready to start their Maghrib prayers (sunset prayer) on Friday evenings.
With 107 people cruelly killed and another 238 injured, these images best depict the catastrophic incident that happened at Masjid Al-Haram last night
Soudi's civil defense authorities have cited the severe rain and winds as the possible reason for the crane to collapse
Image via CNN
The crane that collapsed was just one of the many that surrounds Masjid Al-Haram as the construction work is being carried out at the moment.
Image via BBC
With 107 dead from this tragedy, the Saudi authorities are still trying to find the real cause of this incident
Image via CNN
Disturbing images of the wounded and the overall confusing and tragic atmosphere have been all over the Internet since the incident happened last night
Two injured pilgrims nursing their bloody wounds after the crane collapsed yesterday at the Grand Mosque
Image via The Daily Mail
One of the victims, seen holding a bloody cloth and blood all over the front of his shirt
Image via The Daily Mail
People have come together, helping the injured and watching over them while waiting for the medical professionals to take over
Image via The Daily Mail
A couple of pixelated images of mangled bodies in what looked like pools of blood at the scene surfaced too
The Saudi civil defense authorities blamed the heavy rain and severe wind speeds as the cause of the incident
"This whole place is already a giant construction site. What made it worse is that around 5.30pm there was severe rain and it was just gushing down the road.
Major General Suleiman Al-Amro, director-general of Saudi's civil defence authority, told Saudi TV that a storm with severe rain and wind speeds as high as 83kmh caused the tower crane to collapse.
Saudi Governor of Mecca listening to aides of the Grand Mosque after the crane collapsed
Image via USA Today
Investigations will be carried out to find out the real cause of the incident
Image via The Daily MailMasjid Al-Haram in Mecca, is the largest mosque in the world and it surrounds the Kaaba, the holiest place on earth for Muslims that they face when praying
The 'Kaaba', said to be the holiest place in the world for Muslims.
Image via Sacred Destinations / BlogOne of the five pillars of Islam requires its every able-bodied Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
A large number of Malaysians join the pilgrimage yearly, with the number set to be 22, 320 this year, as reported by The Malay Mail Online.
Masjid Al-Haram has a total of nine minarets, with each as tall as 89 meters.
Image via Sacred Destinations / BlogMasjid Al-Haram can accommodate up to 900,000 pilgrims but during the Hajj period, a staggering 4,000,000 worshipers flock the mosque
That has resulted in construction work, that is currently underway to expand the grand mosque to better accommodate millions of pilgrims that descend upon the holy mosque, yearly.
It is the Mosque’s biggest and most ambitious expansion project in its history and work is currently in its third phase.
The porticos (a row of columns supporting a roof at the entrance of a building) from the Ottoman era are now being re-instated after they were taken down in order to expand the Mataf.(open white area immediately around the Ka'bah)
ilmfeed.com
Gigantic red cranes all the the mosque for the ongoing construction
Image via Al-Masjid-Al-Haram BlogKind souls from around the world have been sending their love and support to all those who were unfortunately, a part of the tragedy last night
#PrayForMakkah #insha-Allah bless their souls pic.twitter.com/XggNo3v5UI
— Deboshree Biswas (@09_deboshree) September 12, 2015
Where is humanity? Allah please open their heart. #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/7H4YvAZN8e
— Hidayah Yusuf (@hidayahyusuf727) September 12, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost the loved one and those who are injured #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/T0dMDOzp8m
— Naszeem Senrose (@NaszeeemNassir) September 12, 2015
My thoughts and prayers are with the families who lost the loved one and those who are injured #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/T0dMDOzp8m
— Naszeem Senrose (@NaszeeemNassir) September 12, 2015
They aren't dead, they're looking down on us from the highest heavens. #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/ZkM9vk3vcg
— Nourah AlMesned. (@NAM68x) September 12, 2015
To those who have been chosen by Allah they are the lucky ones Subahanallah #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/VIyFmScVfm
— Afif (@afifadza) September 12, 2015
Everything comes from Allah and will return back to Allah #PrayForMakkah !!! pic.twitter.com/Gts9ag9M7l
— ❤❤❤Asma Sayed❤❤❤ (@spreadislamm) September 12, 2015
may Allah save hijij at masjidil haram. #PrayForMakkah pic.twitter.com/ceVUgX5pOs
— D e n y e L (@DanialAsyhh) September 11, 2015