Excessive Heat Claims Lives of Hundreds During Hajj in Mecca
Amidst over 1.8 million participants in the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, oppressive temperatures dominate. multiple countries' faithful have tragically lost their lives due to the extreme heat.
As per news reports, numerous pilgrims have perished during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca due to relentless heat. The reported death toll differs slightly, with at least 550 fatalities cited by the French news agency AFP, drawing on diplomats.
Among the deceased, 323 were from Egypt, primarily succumbing to heat-related complications. The Tunisian news agency Tunis Afrique Presse confirmed 35 Tunisian citizens among the dead. The Jordanian Foreign Ministry issued 41 burial permits for Jordanian pilgrims, while Iranian news agency IRINN reported 11 Iranian fatalities and another 24 hospital admissions.
The Senegalese press agency disclosed that at least three Senegalese were among the casualties. The Indonesian Health Ministry reported 144 deaths among Indonesian pilgrims, albeit without immediate corroboration from other sources.
Locating the missing
Significant numbers of the deceased were attributed to heat-related causes by family members on social media. Others continued their search for missing relatives in Saudi Arabian hospitals. Contrary to numerous Monday reports on deaths, the Saudi Health Ministry earlier insisted that they had not detected any abnormally high deaths among Muslim pilgrims during the extreme temperatures.
On Monday, Saudi state television disclosed that the temperatures in the Grand Mosque in Mecca reached a shocking 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade. Over 2,700 pilgrims were reportedly treated for heat-related ailments, as the Health Ministry announced. The pilgrimage commenced on a Friday and concluded on a Wednesday. The Saudi Statistics Authority anticipates over 1.8 million pilgrims this year.
Over the past 30 years, hundreds have perished during the Hajj to Saudi Arabia due to stampedes, tent fires, and other unfortunate incidents. The pilgrimage to Mecca is a unique religious responsibility for all Muslims, requiring them to perform the religious rites taught by Prophet Mohammed over 1,400 years ago.
