Hajj activites planned to resume after crane collapse

Islam's hajj pilgrimage will take place despite a crane collapse that killed 107 people and injured over 200 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Saudi authorities said Saturday as crowds returned to pray a day after the tragedy.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims had already arrived in Mecca for the annual hajj when the massive red and white crane toppled over during a Friday thunderstorm.

Parts of the Grand Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, remained sealed off on Saturday around the wreckage of the crane.

But there was little mourning among pilgrims, who snapped pictures of the wreckage and continued with their prayers and rituals.

The accident occurred only about an hour before evening mahgrib prayers on the Muslim weekly day of prayer.

Om Salma, a Moroccan pilgrim, said "our phones have not stopped ringing since yesterday with relatives calling to check on us".

Indonesians and Indians were among those killed when the crane collapsed, and the injured included Malaysians, Egyptians and Iranians.

"Suddenly, I heard thunder and then we heard a very loud noise. That was the sound of the crane falling," said Mohammed, a Moroccan pilgrim.

Another visitor, Ahmed from Egypt, said he and those around him were "very scared, hysterical even".

A Saudi official said the hajj, expected to start on September 21, would go ahead despite the tragedy.

"It definitely will not affect the hajj this season, and the affected part will probably be fixed in a few days," said the official, who declined to be named.

The pilgrimage is a must for all able-bodied Muslims who can afford it.

An investigative committee has "immediately and urgently" begun searching for the cause of the collapse, the official Saudi Press Agency said.

The contractor has been directed to ensure the safety of all other cranes at the site, it added.