No fewer than 900 pilgrims have died during the ongoing 2024 Hajj in Saudi Arabia over excessive heat.
According to Arab diplomats managing their countries’ responses, at least 600 of the deceased were Egyptians, with the majority succumbing to heat-related ailments.
The diplomats clarified that the fatalities included 60 Jordanians, an increase from earlier figures released by Amman, bringing the total reported deaths to 922 across multiple nations
who had gone missing during the hajj.
While a ministry statement said “a certain number of deaths” had occurred, it did not specify whether Egyptians were among them.
Saudi authorities have reported treating more than 2,000 pilgrims suffering from heat stress but have not updated that figure since Sunday and have not provided information on fatalities.At least 240 pilgrims were reported dead by various countries last year, most of them Indonesians
The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means to must complete it at least once.
The pilgrimage is increasingly affected by climate breakdown, according to a Saudi study published last month that said temperatures in the area where rituals are performed were rising 0.4C (0.72F) each decade.
Temperatures hit 51.8C at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, the Saudi national meteorology centre said.
Saudi officials had advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, stay hydrated, and avoid direct sun exposure during peak daytime hours. However, challenges persisted, with reports of overwhelmed emergency services and pilgrims encountering difficulties.
This year, approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the hajj, including 1.6 million from abroad, according to Saudi authorities. The influx, compounded by unregistered pilgrims attempting the hajj through unofficial channels, posed additional risks due to lack of access to essential facilities.
An Egyptian official overseeing the hajj mission attributed a significant number of Egyptian deaths to unregistered pilgrims, highlighting chaotic conditions and inadequate services in their camps.
