Minister of Interior Affairs of Saudi Arabia announced that 76 pilgrims, who arrived in Mecca for hajj, died and 62 got injuries as a result of 4-storied hotel`s collapse.

Citizens of France, Great, Britain, Bangladesh, United Arabic Emirates and Indonesia are among the victims of catastrophe.

Search-rescue works on place of collapse lasted for 1.5 days and are finished at present moment.

Official representative of police, investigating the accident, said that the cause of collapse became the crack in house footing, which formed because constructional defect.

But owners of hotel disagree with this statement and suggest another version of building`s collapse. In their opinion, the hotel broke down "by dictate of fate and God`s Providence".

As a reminder, the hotel collapsed on January 5. Hundreds of people, who arrived in Mecca for annual pilgrimage as well as victims, participated in rescue works on ruins of the building. Muslims consider that people, dead during the hajj, become the martyrs and go to paradise.
sections: Accidents, World News