Mina Stampede: death toll of Pakistanis mount to 52

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ISLAMABAD: The death toll of Pakistani pilgrims martyred in Mina stampede climbs up to 52, said the ministry of religious affairs 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, while about 39 are reportedly still missing. This is the worst disaster to strike the Hajj 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.

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; 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 and Benin: unspecified number of deaths.