Saudi Arabia Opens Probe into Deadly Mecca Crane Collapse

Saudi Arabia has opened an investigation into the causes for the accident in Mecca, in which  at least 107 people were killed when a construction crane crashed into the Grand Mosque, the BBC reported on Saturday.

The crane hit part of the mosque in the Muslim holy city late on Friday afternoon when the building was full of worshippers. Authorities put at 230 the number of injured by the collapse of the crane and the ensuing stampede.

According to Saudi Arabia's civil defence authorities, a rainstorm with winds of up to 85 km per hour have caused the crane to crash down.

About two million Muslims are expected to arrive in Mecca from all over the world for the annual Hajj pilgrimage later this month. The Grand Mosque is the largest in the world and surrounds Islam's holiest site known as the Kaaba -- a cube-shaped shrine that worshipers circle.