Hajj Corporation has confirmed that the Maldivian pilgrims are safe in Mina, a neighborhood of Mecca.

The corporation stated that their 600 pilgrims are in Mina while 355 of their additional quotas arrived after their Umrah prayers this evening.

Maldivian pilgrims from four private corporations have also arrived at Mina.

Monday is the beginning of the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims.

Maldives received a quote of 1,000 this year and while it later received another 1,000 on short notice, would-be pilgrims were unable to fill the whole quota.