The four Haj pilgrims from Malaysia who were reported missing after a hotel Mecca collapsed last Thursday, were confirmed to have died in the incident.

Tabung Haji Medical Operations Director Dr Shuhaimi Ismail said their identities were being withheld until their families were informed by the Malaysian Haj Consulate in Jeddah.

According to Bernama, the bodies of all the four victims, who were from Sabah, are now at the Mina Muaissim mortuary where they were identified by Tabung Haji officers.

Tabung Haji would arrange for the bodies to be buried at a cemetery near Mina after their families were informed, said Suhaimi.

In the 1pm (6pm Malaysian time) incident near Masjidil Al Haram, 76 people died and 62 others were injured. Five Malaysians were among those injured.

Undergoing treatment

Of the five, three were admitted to the King Faisal Hospital but one - Rusli Awang, 48, - who sustained cuts on the body had been discharged while her younger brother, Jamil Awang, 42, who had his right leg fractured and cuts on the chin had been transferred to the Tabung Haji Hospital in Syisyah..

The one still receiving treatment at the King Faisal Hospital was Saliam Sahid, 56, who suffered bone fractures on the pelvic and cheek. His condition was reported to be stable and he could now speak after a surgery last night.

Two more Malaysians who were injured, received outpatient treatment at the King Faisal Hospital.

Two other Malaysian pilgrims who were earlier reported missing turned up at the Tabung Haji operations centre at the Habibah Hotel this morning and informed the officers that a friend had probably died as they were at the site when the incident happened.

Acting on the information, Tabung Haji officers immediately went to the mortuary and found four Malaysians among the victims.