Photo: AFP
The Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that three Indonesian nationals were among the at least 717 pilgrims who died in the Hajj stampede in Saudi yesterday.
“It’s true. Three pilgrims died. Two have been identified, while the other one is in the process of being identified,” Religious Affairs Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said, as quoted by Kompas today.
According to the ministry, the two identified Indonesian victims are Hamid Atwi Tarji Rofia (51) from Probolinggo, East Java, and Busyaiyah Sahel Abdul Gafar (50) from Batam.
The other Indonesian victim was not carrying his identifying documents on him during the incident.
The number of Indonesian victims is relatively low compared to other nations’ because the stampede happened on a pedestrian route designated for pilgrims from Africa and South Asia.
“Maybe (the Indonesian victims) got lost or didn’t know the route [they were supposed to take],” Lukman said.
At least 717 people were killed and 863 injured in the Hajj pilgrimage stampede in Mina, Saudi Arabia, yesterday morning. Crowds of pilgrims were gathered at the site to pelt stones at pillars representing the devil in a symbolic ritual when the stampede happened.
More than 2 million Muslims from around the world are attending the Hajj pilgrimage this year.
