MADRID, Jan. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- The Spanish government has sent its "most sincere condolences" to the families and governments of the 345 pilgrims who died in a stampede in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, the country's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

    Thousands were involved in a stoning ritual on the last day of the hajj, the Muslim pilgrimage season. In the press, many pilgrims apparently tripped over equipment and luggage. The resulting confusion triggered a stampede in which hundreds of pilgrims were crushed to death and a further 300 injured.

    Spain wished injured pilgrims a speedy recovery, and expressed its solidarity with the Muslim community, which is currently celebrating one of its major festivals.

    It was the second such incident this year. Earlier this month, a hostel housing pilgrims collapsed, killing 76 people and injuring 20 others.

    Stampedes have killed dozens of people on five separate occasions in recent years, namely, the pilgrimage seasons of 1990,1998, 2001, 2003 and 2004. The most serious incident killed more than 1,400 people. Enditem