Death Toll of Indonesians Pilgrims in Mecca Increases to Seven

Mekkah, (Antara) - The number of Indonesian pilgrims who died in the crane accident in Mecca increased to seven, according to an official.

Earlier, it was reported that two Indonesians were killed in the accident, but after a verification process, five more Indonesian pilgrims were declared dead, the Chief Organizer of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims (PPIH) for Mecca Desk (Daker), Arsyad Hidayat, said in Saudi Arabia on Sunday.

The PPIH had earlier reported that two Indonesian Hajj pilgrims were killed in the accident and 42 others were injured.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on its website that the crane accident had killed at least 107 people and injured over 200 others.

Quoting Saudi officials, the Journal said the deadly accident occurred days before the start of the annual Hajj pilgrimage that will see more than two million pilgrims visit the holy city of Mecca.

Government officials said a storm that rocked the city on Friday caused the crane's collapse, which caved in parts of the mosque, the world's largest, which was filled with pilgrims when the crane collapsed.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has offered his condolences to victims of the crane accident at the Masjidil Haram Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca.

"We are in mourning and offer deep condolences to the bereaved family members of the victims, including some prospective hajj pilgrims from Indonesia," President Jokowi said in a written statement made available to Antara in Jakarta on Saturday.

The same condolences were also conveyed by Vice President Jusuf Kalla. He  offered condolences over the hajj pilgrims who were killed when a construction crane fell at  Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday.

"Let me extend my deep condolences over the victims of crane collapse at the Masjidil Haram in Mecca," he said on his Twitter account on Saturday.(*)