Pilgrims on a road in Mina, near the holy city of Mecca Sept. 24. REUTERS

The deadly crush that occurred during the Hajj near Mecca last month killed at least 2,070 people, nearly triple the number reported by Saudi authorities, a Reuters tally indicated on Thursday. 

Saudi Arabia has come under heavy criticism for its handling of the disaster. Safety during the pilgrimage is a politically sensitive issue for the kingdom’s ruling Al Saud dynasty, which presents itself as the guardian of Islam and custodian of its holiest sites in Mecca and Medina.

The figure, based on information provided by the state, religious authorities and local media reports in the victims’ home countries, would make it the worst such catastrophe to befall the annual pilgrimage since 1990 when 1,400 people were crushed to death in a tunnel.

Saudi officials have stood by their official counts of 769 dead and 934 injured, which have not been updated since two days after the incident. The health ministry has said any discrepancies in death tolls may stem from countries counting pilgrims who had died of natural causes.

The disaster triggered criticism from Iran, which lost the most pilgrims in the crush. But other Muslim countries, which rarely voice disapproval of the powerful and wealthy Saudi Arabia, have also spoken up. 

Anger was stoked by early Saudi comments that appeared to lay blame on the pilgrims themselves.

In the wake of the crush, Saudi King Salman ordered an investigation into its causes. No date has been set to announce results. Critics of the Saudi government challenge the independence of the probe.

Asked about the death toll compiled by Reuters, a Saudi health ministry spokesman said a high-level committee was running an investigation.

“All details related to this matter will soon be released following the completion of this committee’s investigation,” he said in an email.

Some, including Iran, have suggested that the disaster may have been caused by authorities halting crowds to make way for a VIP, a charge Saudi officials strongly deny.

Iran reported 465 dead in the Mina crush. Other countries with large tolls included Indonesia with 127, India with 116 and Pakistan with 99.