The number of Egyptian pilgrims confirmed as being killed in the deadly stampede in Mecca last week has risen to 83, according to the minister of endowments Mohamed Gomaa, MENA reported Thursday 1 October.

Gomaa, head of Egypt's hajj 2015 delegation, said that 80 people are still missing among the Egyptian pilgrims, while three have been found alive in the past few days.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Sherif Ismail dispatched newly appointed Egyptian health and population minister Ahmed Emad El-Din Rady to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in order to join Egypt's official hajj delegation.

The stampede occurred on Wednesday last week as pilgrims converged at Mena, just outside Mecca, to take part in the symbolic stoning of the devil.

The latest figure released on Saturday by Saudi authorities places the death toll in the Mena stampede at 769 with at least 934 injured.

Almost two million pilgrims took part in the stoning ritual this year, with an estimated 62,000 Egyptians performing hajj in 2015.

Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, should be performed at least once by any Muslim who can afford the trip.

The Saudi authorities have opened an official investigation into the stampede, and vowed to review hajj regulations.