Mecca crane collapse

Mecca crane collapse

Construction at the Masjid al-Haram.
Time 17:10 AST (UTC+03:00)[1][2]
Date 11 September 2015 (2015-09-11)
Location Masjid al-Haram, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
Coordinates 21°25′21″N 39°49′34″E / 21.4225°N 39.8262°E / 21.4225; 39.8262Coordinates: 21°25′21″N 39°49′34″E / 21.4225°N 39.8262°E / 21.4225; 39.8262
Cause Crane collapse
Deaths 111[3][4]
Non-fatal injuries 394[3]

On 11 September 2015, a crawler crane toppled over onto the Masjid al-Haram, the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. 111 people were killed and 394 injured.[3][4][5][6] The city was preparing for the Hajj pilgrimage.[7][8][9]

The victims were of twelve different nationalities, with the greatest contingents of fatalities being twenty-five Bangladeshis and twenty-three Egyptians. Of the injured, the most represented nationalities were 51 Pakistanis and 42 Indonesians.[10][11][12][13][14][15] The accident has been cited as the deadliest crane collapse in modern history, with the previous most deadly incident being the collapse of a construction crane in New York City in 2008, killing seven people.[16]

Background

Main article: Masjid al-Haram

The Masjid al-Haram is the largest mosque in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest place, the Kaaba, in the city of Mecca. Muslims face in the direction of the Kaaba while performing obligatory daily prayers. One of the Five Pillars of Islam requires every Muslim to perform the Hajj pilgrimage at least once in his or her lifetime if able to do so, including circumambulation of the Kaaba.[5]

There have been many major incidents during the Hajj over the years, causing the loss of thousands of lives.[17] To prevent stampedes and accommodate more pilgrims each year during the Hajj season, Saudi authorities undertook a major construction project to expand the mosque compound in recent years.[18] At the time of the incident the Saudi authorities were preparing for the hundreds of thousands of people expected to arrive in the city for the Hajj due to begin on 22 September 2015.[6][18] A Saudi official stated that Hajj would continue despite the collapse.[19]

Accident

Nationalities of victims
Nationality Killed Injured Ref.
 Bangladesh 25 [20]
 Egypt 23 [20]
 Pakistan 15 51 [14][20]
 Indonesia 11 42 [21]
 India 11 15 [10][15]
 Turkey 8 21 [22][23]
 Malaysia 6 10 [11][20]
 Nigeria 6 [24]
 United Kingdom 2 3 [15][25]
 Iran 11 32 [10][20][26]
 Algeria 1 [20]
 Afghanistan 1 [20]
Total 111[note 1] 394 [3][4]

The Saudi Civil Defence authority confirmed that a crane collapsed through the ceiling of the mosque during strong winds created by a powerful storm. The collapse killed at least 111 people,[27][4] injured 394, and trapped many pilgrims under the debris.[3][6][28][29][30]

The incident reportedly occurred shortly before 5:20 p.m. on Friday, one of the busiest times of the week. The crane fell into the east side of the mosque, with its boom crashing through the roof.[5] One witness reported that the crane fell on the third floor above Al-Safa and Al-Marwah at 5:45 p.m. local time.[31]

There were strong sand storms in the region over the preceding week. The authority said an hour before the disaster that Mecca was experiencing medium to heavy rains. There were also reports of winds of more than 40 kilometres per hour (25 mph). However, the exact cause of the crane collapse was not confirmed.[32]

Following the accident the governor of Mecca, Prince Khaled Al Faisal, ordered an investigation into the incident. Search and rescue teams and medical workers from the Saudi Red Crescent were sent to the site. After visiting the site on 13 September 2015, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud vowed that the accident will be investigated and the results will be made public.[33][34] Pictures and video circulating on social media showed many dead and wounded amidst severe damage to the building.[6]

After receiving the report on the investigation into the incident, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman ordered on September 15, only four days after the incident, that top officials of the Saudi Binladin Group be banned from traveling outside the kingdom and the group is also suspended from taking new projects.[35][36] The report pinned the blame for the accident partially on the construction company. A royal court announcement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said the king was reviewing the report of the Accident Investigation Committee, which suggested negligence on the part of the Saudi Binladin Group, but concluded that it found an "absence of criminal suspicion". The report said "the main reason for the accident is the strong winds while the crane was in a wrong position".[37]

Bandar Al Hajjar, Saudi Hajj minister at the time,[note 2] stated that the Hajj that year would be the last to be affected by reductions in pilgrim quotas due to construction work, saying "Starting from next Haj season, the number of pilgrims will increase to 5 million and then to 30 million in the coming five years".[39][40]

Crane

Another view of construction at the Grand Mosque, showing cranes of the type that collapsed.
Another view of construction at the Grand Mosque, showing cranes of the type that collapsed.

The German-made Liebherr Group crawler crane LR 11350[41][42] involved in the incident is operated by the Saudi Binladin Group, who are heading the expansion of the Grand Mosque and also responsible for a large amount of major building contracts in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Binladen Group is the second largest construction company in the world and was founded by billionaire Mohammed Bin Laden.[5][43] An engineer for the group said that the crane was erected in "an extremely professional way", and the accident was an "act of God".[44] The Liebherr Group responded to the accident by sending local engineers and engineers from their crane manufacturing plant in Ehingen, Germany to help in the investigation of the accident and to assist on site.[45] Liebherr Group experts who participated in the investigation of the collapse found no structural flaws in the crane. Their report stated that the crane's 190 meter long boom was not sufficiently secured by its operators so as to withstand the high winds present on the day of the collapse, and that use of that crane in those 80–105 kph winds was well outside the manufacturer's recommended operating parameters.[46] The Saudi Gazette reported that Khaled Al-Faisal, the Emir (Governor) of Mecca, had ordered the Binladin Group to relocate the crane from pedestrian areas and to deploy safeguards to prevent pilgrims entering the construction zone, eleven days before the accident.[47]

A source within the Mosque's engineering department stated that the crane was removed from the mosque and will not be reconstructed. The source said that, in coordination with the Civil Defense, all of the 100 cranes still present near the Haram were inspected and found to be safe.[4]

Reaction

Irfan al-Alawi, co-founder of the Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, criticised the Saudi authorities, believing that their redevelopment of holy sites was not only damaging history, but putting many pilgrims' lives at risk.[44]

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak called for immediate aid for Malaysian pilgrims who were injured in the incident.[48] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani offered medical staff to assist with casualties.[49] Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman said that a Pakistani medical team engaged in providing medical treatment to the injured.[50]

Other leaders around the world offered condolences. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi[51] prayed that "Allah Almighty to grant the souls of the deceased rest in peace and forgiveness and to grant the injured a speedy recovery." Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson stated that he was "deeply saddened" and offered "condolences to the families and friends of the victims".[52]

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that his "thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives in the crane crash in Mecca" and wished a "quick recovery" for the injured.[53] Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari urged "all Nigerians to pray for the continued safety of their compatriots who are currently in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj".[54] Singapore's President Tony Tan extended his "deepest and heartfelt condolences" to the King and people of Saudi Arabia, and stated that "our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families during this difficult time".[55]

South African President Jacob Zuma[56] and Russian President Vladimir Putin[57] both offered their condolences. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow wrote that "it was with heartache that I heard the news that hundreds of people who were on a pilgrimage to Mecca were killed and injured".[58] United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron wrote on Twitter that his "thoughts and prayers are with those who have lost loved ones at Mecca today".[53] United States Secretary of State John Kerry issued a statement that the United States stood with Saudi Arabia and "all Muslims around the world in the aftermath of this dreadful incident at one of Islam's holiest sites".[59]

Compensation for victims

King Salman of Saudi Arabia ordered that a million Saudi riyal (US$266,000) be paid as compensation to the families of those who died in the crane collapse, and that two relatives of each of the deceased are to be the King's guests for Hajj in 2016. The Saudi King has further ordered a million Riyals to be paid to each victim of the collapse with a permanent disability, and half a million riyal (US$133,000) to be paid to as compensation to collapse victims without lasting injuries.[60][61] King Salman also decreed that these compensation payments will not prevent private legal claims by the injured and families of the deceased.[62]

See also

Wikinews has related news: At least 107 killed in Mecca crane collapse

Notes

  1. ↑ The total of all deaths reported by nation (120) does not add up total deaths reported by most up-to-date sources (111). Some of those killed may have held multiple citizenship or some references may be incorrect.
  2. ↑ Al Hajjar was removed from his position on 27 September 2015 in the aftermath of the 2015 Mina stampede.[38]

References

  1. ↑ "Mecca crane collapse: Saudi inquiry into Grand Mosque disaster". BBC News. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  2. ↑ Karimi, Faith; Ellis, Ralph; Hanna, Jason (12 September 2015). "Crane collapse kills 107 people at mosque in Mecca days before Hajj". CNN. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Batrawy, Aya (13 September 2015). "Pilgrims Traumatized, Asking How Mecca Crane Could Collapse". Associated Press. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Collapsed crane removed from Haram". Saudi Gazette. 17 September 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Calderwood, Imogen; Crone, Jack (11 September 2015). "The Hajj will go ahead: Religious leaders confirm Islam's mass pilgrimage to Mecca goes ahead this month despite the crane disaster killing 107 there yesterday". Daily Mail. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Rawlinson, Kevin; Chulov, Martin (11 September 2015). "Hajj pilgrimage to go ahead despite tragic crane collapse at Mecca’s Grand Mosque". The Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  7. ↑ "Crane falls in Mecca's Grand Mosque, casualties reported". Daily Mail. Reuters. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  8. ↑ "52 dead in crane accident in Mecca's Grand Mosque: Saudi reports". The Daily Star. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  9. ↑ Abdelaty, Ali; Hashem, Mostafa; Bayoumy, Yara (11 September 2015). "At least 107 killed by falling crane at Grand Mosque in Mecca". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "2 Indians Among Over 100 Killed in Accident at Mecca's Grand Mosque". NDTV.com. Indo-Asian News Service/All India. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  11. 1 2 "10 Malaysian pilgrims injured, six unaccounted for in Mecca crane collapse". The Borneo Post. Bernama. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  12. ↑ "Crane Collapse kills at least 107 at Meccas grand mosque in Saudi Arabia". Zee News. AFP. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  13. ↑ "Crane Jatuh di Masjidil Haram, 1 WNI Meninggal, 20 Terluka" [Crane crashes in the Haram, 1 citizen Dies, 20 Injured]. Tempo Nasional (in Indonesian). 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  14. 1 2 Wasif, Sehrish (11 September 2015). "51 Pakistani pilgrims injured in Makkah crane accident: FO". The Express Tribune. AFP. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  15. 1 2 3 Townsend, Sarah (14 September 2015). "King Salman to make findings of Makkah crane collapse probe public". Arabian Business. Retrieved 17 September 2015.
  16. ↑ Hampton, Tudor (15 September 2015). "Supercrane Collapse in Mecca Ranks as Deadliest in Decades". ENR. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  17. ↑ Miller, Susan (11 September 2015). "Mecca no stranger to tragedy". USA Today (Gannett Company). Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  18. 1 2 "At least 87 dead after crane accident in Masjidul Haram". DAWN. AFP/Reuters. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  19. ↑ "Haj to go ahead; crane collapse toll reaches 107". Khaleej Times. AFP. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Makkah crane crash report submitted". Al Arabiya. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  21. ↑ "Daftar Nama Jemaah Rawat/Wafat Musibah Jatuhnya Crane Di Masjidil Haram 11 September 2015" [Names of Pilgrims Hospitalized/Dead in Calamity of Haram Crane Collapse September 11, 2015] (in Indonesian). Direktorat Jenderal Penyelenggaraan Haji dan Umrah - Kementerian Agama Republik Indonesia. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  22. ↑ "8 Turkish pilgrims die in crane collapse at Grand Mosque". Today's Zaman. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  23. ↑ "Number of casualties of Turkish Haji candidates at the Kaaba accident reach 8…". Presidency of Religious Affairs. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  24. ↑ "Six Nigerians among victims of Saudi crane accident: official". Yahoo! News. AFP. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  25. ↑ Halkon, Ruth; Webb, Sam (13 September 2015). "Two Brits dead and three injured in Mecca Grand Mosque crane tragedy that killed 107 people". Mirror Online. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  26. ↑ "3 more Iranians confirmed dead in Mecca crane collapse". Press TV. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  27. ↑ Murphy, Brian; Branigin, William (11 September 2015). "Saudi officials: Crane collapse at Mecca Grand Mosque kills at least 107". The Washington Post. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  28. ↑ Mosendz, Polly (11 September 2015). "Death Toll From Crane Crash at Mecca's Grand Mosque Surpasses 100". Newsweek. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  29. ↑ "Mecca crane collapse: 107 dead at Saudi Arabia's Grand Mosque". BBC News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  30. ↑ "Crane collapse in Mecca kills at least 107". Fox News. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  31. ↑ "Crane collapse kills at least 107 in Mecca Grand Mosque". Al Jazeera. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  32. ↑ Henderson, Barney (11 September 2015). "Saudi Arabia promises investigation after crane collapse kills 107 in Mecca's Grand Mosque". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  33. ↑ "Saudi King vows to find cause of Makkah tragedy". Gulf News. AFP. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  34. ↑ "King Salman visits crane collapse site in Makkah". Khaleej Times. IANS. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  35. ↑ "Saudi Suspends Binladin Group for Grand Mosque Crane Crash". Emirates 247. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  36. ↑ "Saudi Arabia king sanctions Binladin Group". Gulf News. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  37. ↑ Wahab, Siraj (16 September 2015). "Saudi Binladin Group sanctioned over deadly crane crash". Arab News. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  38. ↑ Aksu, Fatma (27 September 2015). "Three Saudi officials removed from posts over hajj disaster". Hürriyet Daily News. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  39. ↑ "Riyadh to end Hajj quota cut in 2016". IRNA. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  40. ↑ "No cut in pilgrim quota from next Haj". Arab News. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 29 September 2015.
  41. ↑ Raidt, Bernhard (12 September 2015). "Unfall in Mekka: Kran wurde bei Liebherr in Ehingen gebaut" [Accident in Mecca: crane was built at Liebherr in Ehingen]. Südwest Presse (in German). Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  42. ↑ Wahab, Siraj (15 September 2015). "Crashed crane came from Germany, and not China". Arab News. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  43. ↑ Hohmann, Leo (12 September 2015). "Bin Laden Crane Collapses, Kills 107 on 9/11 Anniversary". WorldNetDaily. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  44. 1 2 "Mecca crane crash 'act of god', says engineer; King Salman vows to find cause". The Times of India. AFP. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  45. ↑ Bambridge, John (16 September 2015). "Liebherr experts investigate Saudi crane collapse". Construction Week Online. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  46. ↑ Steibabler, Thomas (22 September 2015). "Unglücks-Kran nicht gesichert" [Crane in accident not protected]. Südwest Presse (in German). Retrieved 23 September 2015.
  47. ↑ "Crane crash: Contractor ignored Emir’s earlier warning". Saudi Gazette. 20 September 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
  48. ↑ "PM pledges aid for Malaysian pilgrims injured in Mecca crane collapse". The Malay Mail. Bernama. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  49. ↑ "Iranian President: Islamic Ummah saddened by Mecca crane crash". AhlulBayt News Agency. IRNA. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  50. ↑ "Pakistan confirms 6 nationals die in Saudi crane crash". Global Post. Xinhua News Agency. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 13 September 2015.
  51. ↑ "Sheikh Mohammed offers condolences to Mecca crane collapse victims". The National. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  52. ↑ "More than 100 dead after crane crashes into Mecca's Grand Mosque". CBC News. Associated Press/Canadian Press. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  53. 1 2 "Saudis probe Mecca crane collapse that killed 107". Middle East Eye. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  54. ↑ Ejiofor, Clement (12 September 2015). "Buhari On Mecca Crane Collapse, Safety Of Nigerian Pilgrims". NAIJ. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  55. ↑ "President Tony Tan sends condolences over Mecca crane collapse". Today. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  56. ↑ Lindeque, Mia (12 September 2015). "Mecca crane collapse: Zuma extends his condolences". EWN Eye Witness News. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  57. ↑ "Putin offers condolences on Mecca tragedy". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Interfax. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  58. ↑ "Patriarch Kirill extends condolences over Mecca crane collapse". Russia Beyond the Headlines. Interfax. 14 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  59. ↑ "Hajj Pilgrimage to Proceed After Tragedy at Grand Mosque". Voice of America. 12 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  60. ↑ "1m Riyals compensation for Makkah crane crash victims". Khaleej Times. AFP. 16 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  61. ↑ "یبرای قربانیان ک میلیون ریال سعودی؛ غرامت حادثه سقوط جرثقیل" [One Million Saudi Riyals, Compensation for Victims of Crane Crash]. Shabestan News Agency (in Arabic). 17 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.
  62. ↑ "Makkah Grand Mosque Crane Crash: SR1 million compensation for each victim". Emirates 24/7. 15 September 2015. Retrieved 16 September 2015.

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