According to The Weather Channel, the crane was brought down by strong winds in the area. According to a Saudi law enforcement Twitter account, rescue crews have been sent to the scene. Prince Khaled al-Faisal, Mecca's governor, has announced that there will be further investigation into the incident.
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The crowded site is not a stranger to tragedies of this magnitude or greater. A building collapse nine years ago claimed 76 lives. Structural collapses, fires, stampedes, and even acts of terrorism have caused the deaths of over 3,000 people since a deadly sectarian clash in 1987.According to descriptions of the scene reported by Al Jazeera, the area is now closed to the public, and crowded with dozens of ambulances fighting the effects of heavy rain to help victims.UPDATE: Death toll rising in — Muhammad Lila (@MuhammadLila)September 11, 2015