麦加朝圣踩踏事故的死亡人数存争议

AS IT IS 2015-10-11 Number of Dead in Hajj Stampede Disputed 麦加朝圣踩踏事故的死亡人数存争议

The Associated Press news agency says at least 1,400 people were killed in a stampede during this year’s hajj pilgrimage.

That is much higher than the official count released by Saudi Arabia, where the hajj takes place.

The AP count includes deaths reported by officials or state media of 18 countries. The count includes only those killed in the stampede in the city of Mina, near the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca.

Iran reported 465 pilgrims¹ killed, Egypt 148 and Indonesia 120. Nigeria reported 99 deaths, Pakistan 89, India 81, Mali 70, Bangladesh 63, Senegal 54, Benin 51, Cameroon 42, Ethiopia 31, Morocco 27, Algeria 25, Ghana 12 and Chad 11. Eight Kenyans died in the stampede along with three Turks.

Saudi officials continue to report 769 pilgrims were killed and 934 were injured. But hundreds are still missing, so the final death count may increase.

Investigators² have not yet said what caused the stampede.

The AP count is close to the number killed in a stampede in 1990, when 1,426 people were killed. That has been the greatest number of deaths reported until now.

Iran blamed what it called Saudi Arabian “mismanagement” for the stampede this year. It called for an independent group to be responsible for the planning and operation of the Hajj.

The pilgrimage lasts for five days. All Muslims who are healthy enough to travel must go on the Hajj at least once in their life.

Words in This Story

stampede – n. an occurrence³ in which a large group of frightened or excited animals or people run together in a wild and uncontrolled way to escape from something or get out of a place

pilgrimage – n. a journey to a holy place

1 pilgrims   

香客，朝圣者( pilgrim的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Muslim pilgrims on their way to Mecca 前往麦加的穆斯林朝圣者
• Many pilgrims knelt piously at the shrine. 许多朝圣者心虔意诚地在神殿跪拜。

2 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 occurrence   

n.发生，出现，事件，发生的事件

参考例句：

• Two things account for its occurrence.发生这件事的原因有两个。
• For a military commander，winning or losing a battle is a common occurrence.胜败乃兵家常事。