A newly constructed structure at the Grand Mosque in Makkah collapsed on Thursday delaying work on the second phase of the mataf expansion project. No one was injured in the accident that took place south of the Umrah Gate.

“The structure collapsed because of the amount of debris on scaffolds,” said Ahmed Al-Mansouri, spokesman of the Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques. “No one died or was injured in the incident as it took place in an area away from the mataf," he said.

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah has instructed officials to open the first phase of the mataf expansion project just before the Haj season. The new area includes an expanded ground floor and first floor with a total capacity of 40,000 worshippers per hour.

The current Haram expansion ordered by King Abdullah is the largest in history and provides additional space for 1.3 million worshippers. The new annex of the mosque will have 52 gates, four minarets and 120 escalators. The project covers more than one million square meters.