Mecca Grand Mosque Crane Collapse — 11 September 2015
Incident Case File · Construction Crane Collapse

Mecca Grand MosqueCrane Collapse

A large construction crane collapsed during storm conditions at Masjid al-Haram in Mecca shortly before the 2015 Hajj, killing more than 100 people and injuring hundreds according to later reporting.

Date11 Sep 2015
LocationMecca, Saudi Arabia
Fatalities107–111 commonly cited
Injuries238–394 commonly cited
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Incident Overview

What happened

On 11 September 2015, a large construction crane collapsed at or onto the Grand Mosque, also known as Masjid al-Haram, in Mecca / Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Sources describe severe weather before the collapse, including strong wind, heavy rain and storm or sandstorm conditions. The crane fell during the period immediately before the 2015 Hajj.

The collapse caused mass casualties among worshippers and pilgrims inside or around the mosque complex. The injury mechanism is best described as crush and impact trauma from the crane, roof, concrete or debris.

Source Position

What can be stated safely

Reliable core facts: the date, location, crane-collapse mechanism, storm conditions and mass-casualty outcome are well supported across the reviewed sources.

Variable figures: casualty totals changed across early breaking reports, later reporting, engineering coverage and court coverage.

Legal position: the legal outcome changed over time, with a 2017 clearance report followed by later 2023 reporting of fines and convictions.

View References →

Key Figures

Casualty figures reported

0
Common contemporary deaths
111
Later ENR / supplied-row deaths
0
Common contemporary injuries
0
Later ENR / supplied-row injuries

Chronology

Incident timeline

Before collapse
A large construction crane was positioned as part of Grand Mosque expansion or construction activity while the Hajj period approached.
11 September 2015 · Storm conditions
Sources report strong wind, heavy rain, storm conditions and/or a sandstorm affecting the area.
Crane collapse
The crane collapsed at or onto the Grand Mosque, with sources describing impact through or onto part of the mosque structure.
Immediate reports
Early updates reported lower casualty numbers, including at least 52 deaths, before figures rose during later reporting.
Later reporting and legal process
Later sources recorded higher injury figures and subsequent court developments, including 2023 reports of fines and convictions.

Details

Operational themes

🌩️
Weather exposure
Strong wind and heavy rain are repeatedly reported as central conditions around the collapse.
🏗️
Construction interface
The incident involved a major crane operating near one of the world’s most crowded religious sites.
🕌
Mass gathering context
The collapse happened shortly before Hajj, when the mosque and surrounding city were under intense pilgrim demand.
⚖️
Legal aftermath
Court reporting changed over time, with later fines and convictions reported after earlier clearance coverage.
⚠️ Reporting caution Casualty totals vary significantly by date and source. The page preserves the main figures rather than forcing one unsupported final number.

Disputed Details

Where sources differ

The supplied document records several conflicts. These should be treated as reporting differences rather than solved facts.

Casualty Reporting
Fatality count

Reported deaths ranged from early breaking figures to later engineering and retrospective figures.

Early / contemporary

Early Reuters social reporting gave at least 52 dead. Guardian live coverage recorded rising figures including 65 and 87. Many contemporary news reports later used 107 deaths.

Later / disputed

Engineering News-Record later reported 111 deaths. One retrospective source mentioned 118, but this was inconsistent with the main reporting set.

Best handling: state 107 as the common contemporary figure and 111 as the later ENR / supplied-row figure.

Casualty Reporting
Injury count

Injury totals changed repeatedly as reporting developed.

Immediate figures

Guardian live coverage recorded changing injury counts including 145, 154, 184 and 201. Many immediate sources reported 238 injured.

Later figures

Arab News later wrote “some 400 injured,” while Engineering News-Record reported 394 injuries.

Best handling: preserve both the common immediate 238 figure and the later 394 figure.

Legal Outcome
Responsibility and court findings

Legal reporting does not remain static across the source set.

2017

Arab News reported that a Saudi court cleared the Binladin Group in 2017.

2023

AP and Saudi Gazette reported fines and convictions linked to negligence and safety-rule violations.

Best handling: present the legal outcome as changing through later court proceedings.

Not Verified

Details not pinned down

These points were not verified as single final facts from the supplied source set.

Casualty List
A single definitive official final casualty list with all nationalities was not verified from an accessible primary Saudi source.
Medical Detail
Exact medical diagnoses were not verified, beyond the clear impact and debris-collapse mechanism.
Point of Impact
Sources vary between wording such as east side, roof and Grand Mosque; a precise mapped point was not confirmed.
Final Unified Toll
The source set does not establish one uncontested final fatality and injury count.

Source Material

References

The supplied document lists the references below. Some entries provide named source labels rather than full URLs, so the page does not invent missing web addresses.

01
Reuters · Reference
Saudi Arabia blames winds for deadly crane collapse, opens investigation
12 September 2015
Reported that Saudi Arabia said stormy winds knocked over the crane, killing 107 people.
Weblink listed in Word document as Reuters; full URL not provided in source document.
02
Al Jazeera · Reference
Saudi crane collapse kills 107 in Mecca Grand Mosque
12 September 2015
Reported at least 107 killed and 238 wounded; cited Saudi Civil Defence and strong wind/heavy rain attribution.
Weblink listed in Word document as Al Jazeera; full URL not provided in source document.
03
The Guardian · Reference
Hajj pilgrimage to go ahead despite tragic crane collapse
12 September 2015
Reported at least 107 killed and 238 injured; noted Hajj would proceed and an investigation had begun.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Guardian; full URL not provided in source document.
04
The Guardian · Reference
Mecca crane collapse: 87 dead at Grand Mosque — as it happened
11 September 2015
Live coverage showing casualty figures changing from at least 52 to 87 deaths and 201 injuries.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Guardian; full URL not provided in source document.
05
The Washington Post · Reference
Saudi officials: Crane collapse at Mecca Grand Mosque kills at least 107
11 September 2015
Reported at least 107 deaths and 238 injuries less than two weeks before Hajj.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Washington Post; full URL not provided in source document.
06
The Washington Post · Reference
How big was the crane that fell on Mecca?
12 September 2015
Reported that the crane crashed through a roof during heavy rain and estimated the crane at roughly 600 feet high.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Washington Post; full URL not provided in source document.
07
Newsweek · Reference
Death Toll From Crane Crash at Mecca’s Grand Mosque Surpasses 100
11 September 2015
Reported 107 dead and 238 injured, citing Saudi Civil Defense Directorate.
Weblink listed in Word document as Newsweek; full URL not provided in source document.
08
ABC News · Reference
More Than 100 Dead in Mecca Crane Collapse
11 September 2015
Reported at least 107 killed and 238 injured, citing local authorities and Saudi civil defence social media updates.
Weblink listed in Word document as ABC News; full URL not provided in source document.
09
ABC7 / AP · Reference
More than 100 dead in crane collapse at Grand Mosque in Mecca
11 September 2015
Reported more than 100 killed and more than 150 injured after the crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque.
Weblink listed in Word document as ABC7 San Francisco; full URL not provided in source document.
10
The Peninsula Qatar · Reference
Crane collapse kills 107 at Grand Mosque
12 September 2015
Reported at least 107 killed and 238 injured in stormy weather, plus an earlier 184-injured figure.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Peninsula Newspaper; full URL not provided in source document.
11
AFP / Times of Israel · Reference
Over 100 die in Mecca mosque crane collapse
11 September 2015
Reported at least 100 killed when a construction crane crashed into the Grand Mosque.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Times of Israel; full URL not provided in source document.
12
ANTARA / Xinhua-OANA · Reference
Crane crash toll rises again to 107 dead, 238 injured
12 September 2015
Reported Saudi state TV figures of 107 dead and 238 injured.
Weblink listed in Word document as ANTARA News; full URL not provided in source document.
13
Dawn · Reference
At least 47 Pakistani pilgrims injured in Makkah crane accident: FO
12 September 2015
Reported Pakistan’s Foreign Office said at least 47 Pakistani nationals were injured and referenced at least 107 deaths overall.
Weblink listed in Word document as Dawn; full URL not provided in source document.
14
The Express Tribune · Reference
51 Pakistani pilgrims injured in Makkah crane accident: FO
11 September 2015
Reported at least 51 Pakistani pilgrims injured and the broader incident causing at least 107 deaths.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Express Tribune; full URL not provided in source document.
15
The Express Tribune · Reference
11 Pakistani pilgrims among dead in Grand Mosque crane accident: FO
13 September 2015
Reported Pakistan’s Foreign Office said 11 Pakistani pilgrims were among the dead.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Express Tribune; full URL not provided in source document.
16
NDTV / PTI · Reference
2 Indians Killed in Crane Crash at Mecca’s Grand Mosque
12 September 2015
Reported India’s External Affairs Ministry said two Indians were killed and 15 injured.
Weblink listed in Word document as NDTV; full URL not provided in source document.
17
The Straits Times · Reference
Six Malaysians missing, 10 injured after Mecca crane crash
12 September 2015
Reported 10 Malaysian pilgrims injured and six missing; repeated the broader 107 dead / 238 injured toll.
Weblink listed in Word document as The Straits Times; full URL not provided in source document.
18
Arab News · Reference
Saudi court clears Binladin Group in deadly crane crash
2 October 2017
Reported a Saudi court cleared the Binladin Group in 2017; stated at least 107 killed and some 400 injured.
Weblink listed in Word document as Arab News; full URL not provided in source document.
19
Associated Press · Reference
Report: Saudi Binladin Group fined over 2015 crane collapse
15 February 2023
Reported a criminal court imposed a $5.3 million fine and sentenced seven people to prison.
Weblink listed in Word document as AP News; full URL not provided in source document.
20
Saudi Gazette · Reference
Supreme Court closes Haram crane crash case with upholding verdicts
2023
Reported the Saudi Supreme Court upheld fines and convictions linked to negligence and safety-rule violations.
Weblink listed in Word document as Saudi Gazette; full URL not provided in source document.
21
Engineering News-Record · Reference
Saudi Arabia Indicts Five Over Deadly Mecca Crane Collapse
22 December 2015
Reported 111 deaths and 394 injuries, and said five accused people were indicted according to local media.
Weblink listed in Word document as Engineering News-Record; full URL not provided in source document.
22
Construction Week Online · Reference
Saudi: Wind caused Grand Mosque crane collapse
13 September 2015
Reported officials said heavy rain and strong winds caused the collapse.
Weblink listed in Word document as Construction Week Online; full URL not provided in source document.
23
Vertikal.net · Reference
Final ruling in Mecca crane collapse
2 March 2023
Reported final penalties including a 20 million riyal fine and seven individuals found guilty.
Weblink listed in Word document as Vertikal.net; full URL not provided in source document.
24
Council of British Hajjis · Reference
Press Release: Makkah crane accident 11/9/2015
11 September 2015
Reported confirmed information that two British nationals were killed in the crane crash.
Weblink listed in Word document as CBHUK; full URL not provided in source document.
25
Principia Ingenieros · Reference
Investigating the Mecca crane collapse
6 March 2018
Engineering consultancy page describing investigation and simulation work on the collapse through the Grand Mosque roof.
Weblink listed in Word document as Principia; full URL not provided in source document.
26
Lexis Middle East · Reference
Saudi Arabia: Crane Crash Investigation Enters Final Stage
13 November 2015
Summarised reporting that preliminary investigations identified strong winds and incorrect crane positioning as main causes.
Weblink listed in Word document as Lexis Middle East; full URL not provided in source document.
27
Lexis Middle East · Reference
Binladin Group Cleared over Grand Mosque Crane Disaster
3 October 2017
Summarised Arab News reporting that Binladin Group had been cleared in 2017.
Weblink listed in Word document as Lexis Middle East; full URL not provided in source document.
28
Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat · Reference
Saudi compensation for Indonesian crane-fall victims
2 September 2019
Reported Saudi compensation for Indonesian victims and described the collapse as caused by strong winds.
Weblink listed in Word document as Indonesian Cabinet Secretariat; full URL not provided in source document.

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