138 killed in tent city fire
f.V.Z. Press Assn—Copyright) RIYADH (Saudi Arabia), December 14. The Government announced today that 138 Moslem pilgrims died and 151 others were injured when fire broke out in a tent city near the holy city of Mecca two days ago. The announcement said that 52.000 Moslems were gathered at the time of the blaze in tents in the Majzara area, 15 miles south-east of Mecca for one of the most important Islamic celebrations — the feast of Id al-Adha marking Abraham’s sacrifice of the lamb on nearby Mt Arafat. The fire was caused by an exploding gas container in a pilgrim’s tent and spread to surrounding tents before it could be brought under control. the announcement said. First word of the fire came from the Tanzanian Government Information Service, laidar es Salaam, which said that the Mecca hospital was full of bodies burned beyond recognition in what it described as a three-hour blaze. Tanzania also said that the Saudi Arabian Government was sending relief aid to survivors.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34027, 16 December 1975, Page 21
Word Count
171138 killed in tent city fire Press, Volume CXV, Issue 34027, 16 December 1975, Page 21
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