According to the latest figures, 345 people died as a result of a crush that arose on Thursday among Muslim pilgrims in Mecca. This was reported by the Minister of Health of Saudi Arabia, Hamad bin Abdullah al-Mani. \n \nAccording to him, 289 people were injured. \n \nThe tragedy occurred during the ritual of the "stoning of the devil" in the Mina Valley, approximately five kilometers from Mecca. The "stoning" ritual is one of the rituals of the Hajj, when pilgrims throw pebbles at three pillars symbolizing Satan. According to authorities, the tragedy occurred "because of haste among the pilgrims and the large number of personal belongings they took with them." The Al-Arabiya television channel notes, citing eyewitnesses, that people stumbled over bags and suitcases left by other pilgrims, and this, with the huge crowd of people, became the main cause of the crush. \n \nDespite the security measures taken by the Saudi authorities, such tragedies often occur in these places. In 2004, during the "stoning" ritual, 244 people died and more than 200 were injured. The cause of the tragedy was the untimely arrival of a large number of pilgrims at the site of the ritual. In 1990, in a similar situation, more than 1,400 pilgrims died. \n \nThis year, more than 2.5 million people are taking part in the Hajj rituals (from January 8 to 13), of whom more than 1.5 million arrived from abroad. This year, 13,000 Russian Muslims set off for the Hajj.