Update: Death toll of Egyptians in Mecca stampede rises to 78

The Egyptian pilgrimage delegation announced on Tuesday that the death toll of Egyptians in the Mecca stampede has risen to 78, the Middle East News Agency reported. 

The Cabinet stated on Tuesday that the Prime Minister has tasked Health Minister Ahmed Emad Eddin to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday to help with identifying the Egyptian victims and facilitating the return of the pilgrims. 

Over 700 pilgrims died in a stampede during hajj this year in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Endowments Minister Mohamed Mokhtar Goma’a declared on Monday that there are now 98 unidentified victims from all nationalities.

The tragic incident occurred on Thursday, when two waves of pilgrims came head to head in a narrow passageway leading to the area where the symbolic stoning of the devil takes place in Mina, just outside Mecca.

The latest official death toll from Saudi authorities is 717, but unofficial sources say it is likely that more than 1000 pilgrims died.  

Endowments Minister Mokhtar Gomaa had originally said on Saturday that 14 Egyptians were killed in the stampede, and 26 were injured and hospitalized.

Gomaa attended hajj this year, with the official title of head of the Egyptian pilgrimage delegation, including an implicit responsibility for the wellbeing of Egyptians in Mecca.

He said on Sunday that the medical convoy accompanying the Egyptian pilgrims has been updating the death toll regularly, in coordination with medical sources, and that 120 Egyptians are still unaccounted for.

The pilgrimage results in casualties every year due to the large numbers of people, occasional stampedes and personal health problems. Last year, twenty Egyptians died while performing the Islamic ritual.

Gomaa said the official death toll would be confirmed on Wednesday, according to the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, and would include those killed in a tragic accident on September 11, when a crane came crashing down into Mecca’s Grand Mosque, as well as those who died of natural causes.

Around two million pilgrims reportedly took part in the stoning ritual this year, which marks the last day of hajj.