Saudis say at least 15 die in Mecca hostel collapse

MECCA, Saudi Arabia - At least 15 people were killed this morning (NZ time) when a hostel collapsed in Mecca as thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Muslim holy city for the annual haj, state television said.

Rescue workers, using cranes and their bare hands, sifted through the rubble as police cordoned off the area near the holy shrine that is the focal point of the haj, which has been marred by other disasters in the past.

Saudi state television said at least 39 people were injured in the incident, which occurred days before the start of the five-day ritual.

"I pulled out at least 10 dead," one medic said. Several pilgrims were also taking part in the rescue.

Saudi civil defence officials said they did not know how many people were staying in the hostel, called the Luluat al-Khair, which is located in a busy, narrow street lined with hotels and shops.

Some Mecca residents said about 30 people were staying there. Earlier, the United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM said four of its citizens had been killed as they passed in front of the building.

The hostel was at least four storeys high.

About 1 million pilgrims are already in Mecca for the haj which starts on Sunday. At least 2.5 million are expected to attend this year's rites.

The haj has been marred by pilgrims' deaths in recent years. Some 250 pilgrims died in a stampede in 2004 during the stoning of three stone pillars which symbolise the devil.

At the shrine, hundreds gathered to pray in and around the esplanade, home to the black stone structure, the Kaaba, which Muslims believe is the house of God.

- REUTERS