At least 577 pilgrims have died during the hajj in Saudi Arabia due to scorching heat and temperature rising to 50 degrees, as per Saudi authorities.
The 577 pilgrims who died during this year’s Hajj are from Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal. The pilgrimage to the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca is mandatory for all Muslims.
At least 323 pilgrims who died were Egyptians, most due to heat-related illnesses, as reported by two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses to AFP.
Except for one who died from injuries in a minor crowd crush, all Egyptian deaths were attributed to the extreme heat, with the total figure coming from the Al-Muaisem hospital morgue in Mecca.
At least 60 Jordanians also have died an increase from the 41 reported earlier by the Jordan ministry. The overall death toll from various countries has reached 577, according to AFP.
The Hajj, a mandatory pilgrimage for all able Muslims, is increasingly impacted by climate change, with a Saudi study indicating temperatures in the ritual areas are rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade.
On Monday, temperatures soared to 51.8°C at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, according to the Saudi National Meteorology Center.
- Saudi authorities reported treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not updated the figure since Sunday or provided information on fatalities.
- Last year, at least 240 pilgrims died, mostly Indonesians.
- On Monday, AFP journalists in Mina saw pilgrims pouring water over their heads and receiving cold drinks and ice cream from volunteers.
- Saudi officials advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, stay hydrated, and avoid sun exposure during peak heat hours.
- Many Hajj rituals, such as prayers on Mount Arafat, require being outdoors for hours during the day.
- Some pilgrims reported seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and overwhelmed ambulance services.
- According to Saudi authorities, approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the Hajj this year, with 1.6 million coming from abroad.