No new survivors found after hotel collapse

Rescue workers searching for signs of life at a four-story building that collapsed in Islam’s holiest city ended their operation today, having found no new survivors.

The Saudi Interior Ministry said yesterday’s collapse killed 53 people and injured 62.

The nationalities of the victims have not been released.

The disaster marred the start of the annual gathering of millions for the hajj pilgrimage that begins on Monday.

More than one million attended Friday prayers in the Grand Mosque, which is just 60 metres away the building that collapsed.

This afternoon, about 24 hours after the collapse, the workers called off the search for survivors in the rubble of the building, which had shops and restaurants and was used as a hotel during the hajj.

“We did all we can. The operation is now over,” said the general in charge of the site.