Saturday, 12 September 2015

Bin Laden family Crane collapses in Mecca Grand Mosque, kills 87, others injured

Thunderstorms: A picture captures the moment the fatal crane was struck by lightning prior to collapsing into the mosque, killing dozens
No fewer than 87 people have died after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

The mosque is Islam’s most sacred site and the destination for millions of Muslims undertaking the Hajj pilgrimage every year.

More than 180 people were injured in the accident, the country’s civil defence authority said on Twitter.


Call for support: Online activists created a hashtag on Twitter urging Mecca residents to donate blood at hospitals in the area 
Struck before evening prayers: Pictures emerging on social media show the scale of casualties with bodies strewn across the mosque floor
The crane fell on the east side of the mosque following high winds and rain which has occurred since last week.

Viral videos online showed the moment the crane fell, with a loud crash heard in the background, followed by panic and shouting.

Emergency services are ongoing and the casualty figure may rise.

Mecca is currently preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage.

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