# Over 100 killed at Mecca during Pilgrimage

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-100-killed-at-mecca-during-pilgrimage/339663>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 12, 2006, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-100-killed-at-mecca-during-pilgrimage/339663 "2006-01-12T15:25:19Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-100-killed-at-mecca-during-pilgrimage/339663/21 "2006-01-13T07:31:59Z")

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> [@Paul in Saudi](#):
>
> Dying on Hajj is not the worst way to go. Still it was a horrid day. (sigh)

Actually, I’ve seen on TV the close relatives of some french pilgrims killed saying in the midst of their tears that it was the best thing that could have happened to them…

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**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\
**Post date:** [January 13, 2006, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-100-killed-at-mecca-during-pilgrimage/339663/22 "2006-01-13T19:52:57Z")

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Just out of curiosity, how does a human “stampede” (whether at a religious pilgrimage or an over-sold rock concert) kill people? Do they get knocked down and trampled? Or asphyxiated by the press of bodies even while standing up? Or what?

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**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\
**Post date:** [January 14, 2006, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/over-100-killed-at-mecca-during-pilgrimage/339663/23 "2006-01-14T18:29:50Z")

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> [@BrainGlutton](#):
>
> Just out of curiosity, how does a human “stampede” (whether at a religious pilgrimage or an over-sold rock concert) kill people? Do they get knocked down and trampled? Or asphyxiated by the press of bodies even while standing up? Or what?

Both, I believe. Trampling is most common, especially if there are things to trip people (such as luggage in this case), but in constrained spaces the crush can generate sustained pressure equivalent to having a couple of people standing on your chest.  
Have read of some of the materials produced in the aftermath of the [Hillsborough](http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/witness/april/15/newsid_2950000/2950949.stm) disaster for more detail - it’s was very well-reaserched and documented in order to prevent a repetition.

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