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Makkah: Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of a hostel collapse in Makkah, which killed scores and wounded at leat 59 others, an Interior Ministry spokesman told state news agency.
A Saudi official said on Friday that the death toll in the collapse has risen to 53.
The small hotel collapsed on Thursday as thousands of Muslims gathered for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
Rescue teams, working through the night, searched for more victims and possible survivors beneath the rubble as police cordoned off the area near the Grand Mosque in central Makkah.
Four of those killed were citizens of the United Arab Emirates, WAM reported.
A government official in Makkah said most of the injured had only light wounds.
Witnesses described how the busy market street was suddenly enveloped in dust when the building fell in the early afternoon.
"I pulled out at least 10 dead," one medic said, as pilgrims helped clear away the rubble.
"I heard a loud noise then suddenly the air was full of debris. I came on to the street then pulled four people out of the mess," said resident Jamal Umran.
Residents said they thought about 30 people were staying in the hostel, which jostled with souvenir shops and hotels in the narrow street.
They said the hostel was at least six storeys high and 30 years old. About 1 million pilgrims are already in Makkah for the Haj this weekend and at least 2.5 million are expected.
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