Salaams and greetings.
Our thoughts and prayers with community at this time due to the tragedy in Mecca this morning with reports of a construction crane collapsing and killing 87 people and injuring 180.
We have spoken to MFAT after enquiries from Br Ikhlaq from the NZMA. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) have advised that many of those affected are construction workers and nationals from Iran, Egypt and Turkey at this stage. No New Zealanders are affected at this stage.
MFAT have requested that our Muslim communities make contact with their families travelling there if they have any concerns. MFAT in turn is liaising with and monitoring reports in Saudi Arabia and if they receive any news of New Zealanders affected they will release it. You can also monitor mainstream media.
Please remind all our community travelling to Mecca on pilgrimage to register on the NZ governments website: www.safetravel.govt.nz
Our thoughts once again with the wider community. Please reassure anyone with concerns that no New Zealanders are affected at this stage and MFAT is monitoring.
NZMA.