A total of 717 have been (currently) confirmed dead and over 800 injured in a stampede that erupted during a ritual at this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca.

Saudi TV has confirmed the death toll, which has been rising steadily since morning, CNN reports.

The stampede erupted during a ritual known as ‘stoning the devil’, where pilgrims throw stones at three pillars in a re-enactment of when the Prophet Abraham stoned the devil and rejected his temptations, according to Muslim traditions.

A sudden surge amongst the huge crowd set off the stampede, which occurred in the city of Mina, two miles from Mecca.

“We have a stampede accident in Mina, and civil defense is dealing with it,” said Brig. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, an Interior Ministry spokesman.

Officials deployed 4,000 workers, along with 220 ambulances and other vehicles, to Mina to help deal with the disaster.

CNN notes that the same ceremony has killed hundreds during past pilgrimages.

This is the second disaster to hit this years pilgrimage, after a crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque on September 11, killing over hundred. Amongst pilgrims at this year’s Hajj is the vice presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife.