Reports from various sources indicate a significant death toll, primarily attributed to scorching temperatures during this year’s annual Muslim pilgrimage(Hajj) to Mecca.
According to diplomats speaking to French news agency AFP, at least 550 pilgrims have lost their lives, with Egyptians constituting the majority of the deceased, mainly succumbing to heat-related illnesses.
The pilgrimage, which commenced last Friday, has been marred by various incidents including stampedes, tent fires, and other accidents, resulting in numerous fatalities over the past three decades.
Saudi state TV reported temperatures soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit) in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday.
Recent studies underscore the growing risks posed by rising global temperatures during the Hajj.
A 2024 study published in the Journal of Travel and Medicine warns that climate change may surpass current heat management strategies.
Additionally, a 2019 study from Geophysical Research Letters highlights increased temperatures in arid Saudi Arabia, posing severe dangers to pilgrims.
Tragically, Tunisian sources report the deaths of 35 citizens, many due to extreme heat, while families continue to search for missing relatives in Saudi hospitals.
Jordan has issued 41 burial permits for its deceased pilgrims, primarily from heatstroke cases.
Iran reported 11 fatalities and hospitalized 24 pilgrims, although the causes of death were not disclosed.
Three Senegalese citizens and 144 Indonesians have also lost their lives during this year’s pilgrimage, with Indonesian health ministry data confirming the deaths without specifying the exact causes.