Saudi stampede casualties rise to 717 dead, 805 injured

Saudi authorities said the total number of pilgrims killed in the stampede Thursday in Mecca has risen to 717.

The number of injured has surged to 805, the Saudi Civil Defense authorities said on its Twitter account.

The victims included people from different countries.

The stampede happened amid a rush of the stoning as part of Hajj rituals. Muslim pilgrims throw stones on a wall representing devil.

The was the second major incident involving massive casualties this month in Saudi Arabia.

Early September, 111 pilgrims were killed and 331 others injured in a crane crash in the grand mosque of Mecca.