MECCA — Turkish Umrah travelers prayed for those affected by the mine disaster in Turkey's western province of Manisa Thursday at the sacred Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

"We cannot provide any material aid, so we are instead trying to help with our prayers," Mustafa Coskun, one of the Umrah travelers, said to the AA.

Turkey's Energy Minister Taner Yıldız said the number of deaths from the mine blast in the town of Soma had risen to 282 Thursday morning.

Umrah is a pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, where Prophet Muhammad was born, performed by Muslims that can be made any time of the year.