In pictures: Aftermath of stampede at Hajj pilgrimage

More than 700 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed and a further 800 injured in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabian officials say.

Pilgrims were on their way to the three Jamarat pillars when the stampede happened, the Saudi civil defence directorate said

The crush happened at Mina, which is the location for a key ritual - symbolically stoning the devil by throwing pebbles against three pillars.

A sudden increase in numbers resulted in a "stampede among the pilgrims and the collapse of a large number of them", the directorate added

Security personnel and the Saudi Red Crescent were sent to help those affected and prevent further casualties

The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about 5km from Mecca that has been the site of past stampedes

Saudi Arabia's interior ministry said the crush appeared to have been caused by two waves of pilgrims meeting at an intersection

Saudi Arabia's health minister, Khaled al-Falih, said the crush occurred because some pilgrims failed to follow directions

The disaster was the deadliest on the annual pilgrimage in more than two decades, and came nearly two weeks after a crane collapsed in Mecca, killing 100 people

The tragedy happened on the day Muslims around the world are celebrating the festival of Eid al-Adha - the festival of sacrifice