Death toll of Hajj stampede rises to 717, Iranian kurds are among dead

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - At least three Kurdish Iranians and residents of Mahabad were reportedly killed in a Hajj stampede near Mecca in Saudia Arabia wirh 37 others still missing, according to a Rudaw correspondent. 

717 Muslims have died as the result of a human stampede during the Hajj pilgrimage, according to the latest data from Saudi officials Thursday.
 
Rudaw has been able to obtain names of Mahabad victims.Their names are:Nusrat Rahmani,Imad Arshad and Bayez Hayran. 

The Mahabad Hajj delegation consisted of 116 people.

There was an intense crowd on Thursday at Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca, where a stampede occurred.

Religious officials in the Kurdistan region announced no Kurds from Iraq were among the victims.
 
Performing Hajj is an Islamic duty and one of the five pillars of Islam for able-bodied Muslims.
 
Earlier this month more than 100 died and 200 others were wounded by the collapse of a construction crane in Mecca.