Mina tragedy: Number of Pakistani martyrs rises to 52

ISLAMABAD: The number of Pakistani pilgrims martyred in the stampede at Mina near the holy city of Makkah has risen to 52, the Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed on Thursday.

In a list published on its website, the ministry released the names and details of the 52 Pakistanis confirmed by officials and family members to have been martyred and at least 49 Pakistanis injured in the stampede – the worst disaster to strike the annual Hajj pilgrimage in 25 years.

The list of 52 Pakistani martyrs includes 19 pilgrims whose deaths have been officially verified by Saudi authorities, and 33 martyrs whose death were confirmed by relatives and eyewitnesses.

Around 39 Pakistani nationals are still believed to be missing since the disaster.

Meanwhile, the Saudi Health Ministry said on Wednesday that the death toll for the incident in Mina on Sept 24 remained at 769 people, with another 934 injured in the incident, rejecting some reports of the death toll being higher.

According to a report by a foreign news agency, hundreds of nationals of Iran, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Morocco and Libya were also missing after the stampede.

AFP adds: Saudi authorities have yet to provide a breakdown of the nationalities of the martyred pilgrims, but several countries have announced the deaths of their citizens. Here is the toll given by foreign officials and media so far:

- Iran: 239 dead, 241 missing
- Egypt: 75 dead, 94 missing
- Nigeria: 64 dead, 244 missing
- Indonesia: 57 dead, 78 missing
- Mali: 60 dead
- India: 45 dead
- Niger: 22 dead
- Cameroon: at least 20 dead
- Ivory Coast: 14 dead, 77 missing
- Chad: 11 dead
- Algeria: 11 dead
- Somalia: 8 dead (media reports)
- Senegal: 10 dead
- Morocco: 10 dead, 29 missing
- Libya: 4 dead, 16 missing
- Tanzania: 4 dead
- Kenya: 3 dead
- Tunisia: 2 dead
- Burkina Faso: 1 dead
- Burundi: 1 dead
- Netherlands: 1 dead
- Benin: unspecified number of deaths