Over 60 dead after crane collapse in Mecca's Grand Mosque

Muslim pilgrims pray around the holy Kaaba at the Grand Mosque during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mecca, 2014. REUTERS/Muhammad Hamed.

Warning: Images and video in this post contain graphic images of death, and may be disturbing.

At least 62 people are confirmed killed in Saudi Arabia today, crushed after a crane collapsed at Mecca’s Grand Mosque. Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defense authority first tweeted news of the accident, which came just weeks before the Muslim annual hajj pilgrimage.

The disaster happened as strong storms were slamming the Grand Mosque, which surrounds Islam’s holiest site, the Kaaba.

Reuters:

Pictures circulating on social media showed pilgrims in bloodied robes and masses of debris from a part of the crane that seemed to have crashed through a ceiling.

Saudi authorities go to great lengths to be prepared for the millions of Muslim who converge on Mecca to perform the sacred pilgrimage.

Last year, the kingdom reduced the numbers permitted to perform hajj for safety reasons because of construction work to enlarge the Grand Mosque.