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Saudi authorities yesterday began investigating a construction crane collapse that killed at least 107 people during a storm at Mecca's Grand Mosque, pledging the annual hajj pilgrimage would go ahead.
Nearly 200 others were hurt and panic broke out as the massive crane crashed down on the mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites, as worshippers gathered for weekly Friday prayers.
Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims have already arrived in Mecca for the hajj, one of the world's largest religious festivals which last year drew two million worshippers.
A Saudi official said this year's hajj would proceed despite the accident.
"It definitely will not affect the hajj this season and the affected part will probably be fixed in a few days," said the official.

Indonesia, the nation with the world's largest Muslim population, said two of its nationals were killed, while Malaysia and Iran said its citizens were among those injured.
As world leaders offered condolences, the governor of Mecca region, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, ordered the investigation into the incident.
Abdel Aziz Naqoor, who said he worked at the mosque, said he saw the massive construction crane fall during the storm.
"If it weren't for Al-Tawaf bridge the injuries and deaths would have been worse," he said, referring to a covered walkway that surrounds the holy Kaaba, which broke the crane's fall.
The Kaaba is a massive cube-shaped structure at the centre of the mosque towards which Muslims worldwide pray.
Pictures of the incident on Twitter showed bloodied bodies strewn across a courtyard where the top part of the crane appeared to have bent or snapped, had crashed into the building, which is several storeys high.
A video on YouTube showed people screaming and rushing around right after a massive crash was heard. The wreckage of the crane was seen lying across the floor of the mosque.

Several other cranes towered over the site.
On Fridays, the Muslim weekly day of prayer, the Grand Mosque is usually at its most crowded. Many would have been gathered there ahead of evening prayers.
Ahmed bin Mohammad al-Mansoori, spokesman for the two holy mosques, was quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency as saying part of a crane collapsed at 5.10 pm "as a result of strong winds and heavy rains".
Irfan al-Alawi, co-founder of the Mecca-based Islamic Heritage Research Foundation, compared the carnage to that caused by a bomb.
He suggested authorities were negligent by having a series of cranes overlooking the mosque.
"They do not care about the heritage and they do not care about health and safety," he said.
Alawi is an outspoken critic of redevelopment at the holy sites, which he says is wiping away tangible links to the Prophet Mohammed.


Hajj to go ahead as Saudi Arabia investigates Mecca crane tragedy that killed 107 people

At least 107 people were killed when the crane toppled over at Mecca's Grand Mosque on Friday. Photo: Reuters

This year's hajj pilgrimage will go ahead despite the accident that killed 107 people. Photo: AFP

The towering construction crane toppled over on Friday during a violent rainstorm in the Saudi city of Mecca, Islam's holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque. Photo: AP

Crane collapse kills 107 at Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, less than two weeks ahead of the hajj pilgrimage

Saudi emergency teams gather inside the Grand Mosque in Mecca. The accident has killed at least 107 people and injuring 238. Photo: Xinhua

Construction cranes surround the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca in this file photo from January 2013. Ongoing expansion and other construction work has transformed the surrounding area from low-rise traditional buildings to luxury hotels and shopping malls. Photo: Reuters

View from inside the Grand Mosque shows part of a large crane that collapsed on the mosque. Photo: EPA

Saudi emergency teams gather inside the Grand Mosque of Saudi Arabia's holy Muslim city of Mecca after a construction crane crashed into it. Photo: EPA

Saudi emergency teams stand next to a construction crane after it crashed into the Grand Mosque of Saudi Arabia's holy Muslim city of Mecca. Photo: EPA

Saudi emergency teams gather inside the Grand Mosque of Saudi Arabia's holy Muslim city of Mecca after a construction crane crashed into it. Photo: Xinhua

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Rain, strong winds may have caused machine to fall onto mosque,killing at least 107, as authorities say annual hajj pilgrimage will go ahead


Hajj to go ahead as Saudi Arabia investigates Mecca crane tragedy that killed 107 people

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Rain, strong winds may have caused machine to fall onto mosque,killing at least 107, as authorities say annual hajj pilgrimage will go ahead

Rain, strong winds may have caused machine to fall onto mosque,killing at least 107, as authorities say annual hajj pilgrimage will go ahead