A Kitchener man said he continued to complete the hajj pilgrimage Thursday, unaware of what had happened behind him until he picked up his phone late in the day.

“When we were completed and done, there was no word or sign of anything or any potential situation happening,” Dr. Faisal Raja told CTV News.

More than 700 people were crushed to death Thursday in a massive stampede at an intersection in Mina, on the outskirts of Mecca. Hundreds more were injured.

Raja estimated that he had left that area about three hours before the stampede began.

He said he was “puzzled” by how the stampede could have occurred, given the billions of dollars the Saudi government has spent on infrastructure and security for the hajj.

An estimated two million people are taking part in this year’s pilgrimage, considered one of the holiest rituals in the Muslim faith.

One other Waterloo Region resident is known to be in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage, as are two people from Guelph.

All of them have made contact with family members in Canada and are safe.

The religious holiday of Eid al-Adha is also being celebrated locally.

More than 3,000 people attended a morning prayer at The Aud in Kitchener.

The afternoon brought a family-friendly festival (see photos here), as well as a second prayer ritual – during which participants had the events from halfway around the world in their minds.

“It’s a day of joy, but at the same time a very somber day,” said event organizer Asif Manzoor.

About 5,000 people attended morning prayers at a separate Eid festival in Waterloo, at RIM Park.

With files from the Associated Press