At least 107 people were killed when a crane toppled over at Mecca's Grand Mosque on Friday, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence authority said, less than two weeks before Islam's annual hajj pilgrimage.
At least 238 people were wounded, Saudi Arabia's Civil Defence body said.
The annual pilgrimage of the Hajj is the fifth and most significant pillar of Islam and is usually undertaken only once in the life of a practicing Muslim, who travels to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
The gathering during Hajj is considered the largest annual gathering of people in the world.
The deadly crane disaster at the Grand Mosque came less than two weeks before this year’s journey takes place.
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Australia’s Grand Mufti, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamed, has urged the thousands of Australian Muslims expected to travel to Mecca this year not to be discouraged from going after the disaster.
“I hope this accident doesn’t frighten anyone from going because it was a natural disaster,” Dr Mohamed explained.
“A crane collapse could have happened anywhere in the world. It was a natural disaster and I urge the people not to be afraid.”
Australia’s Grand Mufti since 2011, Dr Mohamed communicates directly with many members of the country’s Islamic community on a daily basis.
“It is extremely significant, most people only go once in their lives,” Dr Mohamed said.
The Grand Mufti also paid tribute to those who were killed in Saudi Arabia, saying it was a disaster “no one could have predicted”.
“My thoughts are with the families. It was unfortunately their time,” he said.
“Dying in Mecca during Hajj is a great honour in Islam. So the fear of death doesn’t stop us from living our lives.”
