More than 700 people were killed and eight hundred injured near Mecca on Thursda

More than 700 people were killed and eight hundred injured near Mecca on Thursday. World leaders are among those continuing to express their condolences to the families of the victims. Lee Soo－eun has the latest. More than two million Muslims gathered near the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca， for the annual hajj pilgrimage， when a stampede broke out near the city on Thursday. Saudi Arabian media report that the incident has killed more than 7－hundred and injured over 860 victims. The death toll may rise further as bodies are still being counted with many of the injured in critical condition. An official at the Korea Muslim Federation said that around 2－hundred Muslims who reside in South Korea， including 20 to 30 South Korean nationals， made the pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The Korean Embassy in Riyadh has confirmed that there have yet to be any reports of South Korean nationals hurt in the stampede. Meanwhile in New York， Pope Francis expressed his sympathy to Muslims regarding the incident. ″I give my sentiments of closeness in the face of tragedy that your people have suffered today in Mecca.″ UN chief Ban Ki－moon also sent his condolences in a message. ″My deepest condolences to many hundreds of people who died， my deepest condolences to the families， friends， and governments and people affected.″ The tragic stampede comes just two weeks after a crane collapsed in the same area， claiming the lives of more than 100 people. Lee Soo－eun， Arirang News.