Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 10
By Khalid Kazimov- Trend:
The death toll among Iranian nationals who went missing following the stampede in Saudi Arabia's Mina valley has reached 19.
Additionally, Iran's Hajj and Pilgrimage Organization chief Saeed Owhadi told Mehr news agency Nov. 10 that the DNA samples of missing Iranians have been handed over to Saudi officials to clarify their fate, and its outcome should be announced within 10 days.
Owhadi further said that Marjan Nazqlichi, the governor of Bandar-e Turkmen County, was found to have died and has been buried by Saudi officials.
On Sept. 24, a stampede occurred in the Mina valley, where Muslims were performing the Hajj rites. The early reports suggest that 465 Iranian pilgrims were among those who lost their lives in the Mina stampede.
Reportedly, Iran has the highest death toll among over 30 countries whose nationals were killed, with Nigeria following next with 199 dead.