Gonna be kinda tough to run that "Allah punishing the wicked" line on this one.
MECCA, Saudi Arabia - A hotel at the gates to the shrines in Islam's holiest city collapsed Thursday, and pan-Arab television reported dozens of casualties.
The tragedy occurred as millions of Muslim faithful poured into Mecca for the annual hajj pilgrimage that peaks on Monday with the Eid al-Adha, a four-day feast.
Is it Eid already? Man, it just kinda sneaks up on ya, doesn't it?
The massive gathering has been hit with tragedies frequently in recent years. The worst hajj-related tragedy occured in 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims were killed in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca's holy sites. In 2004, on the final day of the ceremonies, 251 people were trampled to death when the crowd panicked during the ritual stoning of the devil. Three years earlier, 35 hajj pilgrims were killed in stampede the same ceremony.
Vegas now posts over and unders on it.
Islam asks Muslims to travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime and the number of pilgrims has increased elevenfold over the past 15 years. The Saudi government has spent billions of dollars in recent years to improve accommodations, transportation and medical facilities for the "guests of Allah."
Sounds like they might've funded it by cutting back on building inspectors. |