At least 107 people have been killed and 238 more have been injured when a construction crane fell onto the Holy Mosque in Makkah on Friday.
South African journalist Abdurrahman Laily, reporting from Makkah told The Daily Vox the accident happened shortly after before the sunset prayers.
The Saudi English daily Arab News, quotes a Sheikh Abdul Raheem, who said,  “There was a huge sandstorm followed by thunder, lightning and then heavy downpour.We went inside the new [extension of the mosque], and suddenly lightning struck one of the cranes,†he said, recalling that debris fell only a few meters from him.
“We saw people dying before our eyes .â€
The huge metal pieces of the crane that caused all the damage/death #Makkah pic.twitter.com/sS7c6VeWUC
— Channel Islam Int. (@channelislam) September 12, 2015
An investigation has been ordered by the the governor of the Makkah region, Prince Khaled al-Faisal.
This is the crane that collapsed.After the crane collapsed.
Posted by The Daily Vox on Friday, 11 September 2015
The South African Hajj and Umrah Council said no South Africans were injured in the incident.
Breaking News: no south African Hujjaj affected by the crane falling at Haram- @SAEssop president of @SAHajUmrahCounc pic.twitter.com/tJ7kxshJG5 — SA Haj&Umrah Council (@SAHajUmrahCounc) September 11, 2015
More to follow.
Featured Image: Twitter
