China's Hajj mission group promised to make efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese worshippers during their pilgrimage to Mecca, said an official with the Islamic Association of China.
The mission group made the promise after three Chinese worshippers were injured in a crane collapse at Mecca’s Grand Mosque last Friday.
Chinese worshipper Lan Ersha was slightly injured and has left the hospital after his cuts were stitched and wrapped up.
He said the accident happened all of a sudden while he was at the Grand Mosque for the Friday prayers.
It began to rain when I was walking around the Kaaba. The rain was so heavy that I decided to find a shelter. But all of a sudden, the crane collapsed. I slipped and fell, with my head cut. The Saudi police saw me and put me into an ambulance. I was then sent to a hospital, said Lan Ersha.
Chinese ambassador to Saudi Arabia Li Chengwen and Hajj mission staff members visited the other two injured Chinese worshippers at the hospital on Sunday. The Hajj mission group said the accident will not affect pilgrimage and the group will provide assistance and support to Chinese worshippers.
"We will send more than 70 staff members, 56 medical workers and about 100 prayer instructors to assist our worshipers in religious affairs, safety, medical care, transportation, accommodation and visits. They will provide thoughtful services to our worshippers," said Adilijiang Ajikelimu, vice-chairman of the Islamic Association of China.
The death toll of the crane collapse rose to 111 on Sunday, with 331 others injured, according to local media reports. Saudi Arabia’s King Salman bin Abdullaziz visited the site and injured pilgrims at the hospital on Saturday. More than three million people are expected to gather in Mecca for the Hajj pilgrimage, which will start on Sep. 21.
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