No Ghanaian pilgrim so far reported killed in Hajj stampede in Mecca

Deputy PRO of the Hajj Board, Alhaji Mohammed Amin Lamptey says no Ghanaian pilgrim has so far been reported killed in the stampede that claimed more than 700 lives in the Saudi Kingdom. 

He told Radio Ghana that officials of the Hajj Board are yet to find any Ghanaian pilgrim involved in the stampede. 

Alhaji Amin Lamptey urged Ghanaians not to panic but stay calm as rescue efforts are still underway. 

He said the Board will not hesitate to update Ghanaians in case of any development. 

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered a safety review for the Hajj pilgrimage after at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca. 

Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite. 

It is the deadliest incident to occur in the pilgrimage in 25 years. 

The king said there is the need to improve the level of organisation and management of movement of pilgrims. 

A commission to investigate the crush has been formed by the Saudi government. 

The Saudi Health Minister, Khalid Al-Falih, said the crush occurred because many pilgrims moved "without respecting the timetables" established by the authorities. 

The Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who lost at least 95 of his citizens in the crush, said the Saudi government must accept the huge responsibility, adding that mismanagement and improper actions are to be blamed. 

Meanwhile, Pope Francis, who is visiting the US, expressed his closeness with Muslims, at a prayer service at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York. 

It is the second disaster to strike Mecca in two weeks, coming on the heels of the collapse of a crane at the Grand mosque killing 109 people.

GBC