http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/meast/08/31/...main/index.html

 

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- At least 841 people were killed and 323 others injured in a stampede on a Baghdad bridge after a massive Shiite religious commemoration erupted into panic Wednesday.

 

Most of those killed were women and children, police sources said. Authorities expect the death toll to reach 1,000, Health Ministry official Jased Latif Ali said.

 

Witnesses said the stampede started after someone screamed that a suicide bomber was in the crowd of pilgrims heading to the Kadhimiya mosque in northern Baghdad.

 

A railing on the bridge then collapsed under the crush of people, and hundreds fell to their deaths in the Tigris River about 30 meters (yards) below, CNN's Jennifer Eccleston reported. (See video of the bridge still jammed with people after the panic.)

 

According to police, some people were crushed to death but most drowned. Emergency crews rushed the wounded to five hospitals as relatives at the riverbank searched for their kin.

 

more at link

Tragedy, pure and simple.

that is absolutely incredible. SO many tragedies in one week...though i think this trumps everything...we're talking about 1/2 of our death total on 9/11...i'm just doing that to put it in perspective of how massive a death tolll that is.

that is absolutely incredible. SO many tragedies in one week...though i think this trumps everything...we're talking about 1/2 of our death total on 9/11...i'm just doing that to put it in perspective of how massive a death tolll that is.

 

Not to be a stickler, but it's about 1/5. 5,000 died on 9/11, right?

 

Terrible tragedy.

Not to be a stickler, but it's about 1/5.  5,000 died on 9/11, right?

 

Terrible tragedy.

No, the 9/11 death toll has been substantially reduced since that early number, and all told is at right around 3,000. So, today's bridge issue is approaching 1/3 of that.

Ah I see. I knew I heard 5000 somewhere. I just knew it was more than Pearl Harbor (I think).

Ah I see.  I knew I heard 5000 somewhere.  I just knew it was more than Pearl Harbor (I think).

Yeah, Pearl Harbor was around 2,400.