More than 220 people crushed to death in a stampede during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca

More than 220 people were crushed to death in a stampede on Thursday during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, the Guardian reports, citing Saudi Arabian authorities.

The stampede happened at Mina, outside the holy city of Mecca.

Nearly 400 more people were injured in the deadly stampede, according to The Telegraph.

Pictures show rescue workers at the scene:

This photo was posted by the Saudi Civil Defense agency:

A video from the Hurriyet Daily News shows the chaos in the aftermath of the stampede:

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Two million Muslims from around the globe began the hajj pilgrimage this week.

The journey is said to be one of the five pillars of Islam, the cornerstones of the Muslim faith, and is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. It remembers the experiences of Abraham and the Prophet Muhammad.

Every Muslim must make the journey at least once in their lifetime.

There have been many deadly incidents during the hajj in the past. In 1990, more than 1,400 people died in a stampede inside a pedestrian tunnel that leads out from Mecca to Mina, according to the Guardian.

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