At least 550 people among the crowds who gathered in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the Haji (pilgrimage), the largest Islamic religious event, have been confirmed dead. Most of these deaths were due to heat-related illnesses.
On June18, AFP cited multiple Arab diplomats and reported that since the Haji began on the 14th, at least 550 people, including at least 323 Egyptians and 60 Jordanians, have died. This count was based on the status of the morgues at a hospital located near Al Mu’aysim, close to Mecca.
According to AFP’s tally, the number of deaths reported from various countries during the Hajj period is 577, and most of the causes of death of the deceased pilgrims were identified as heat-related illnesses.
A diplomat said, “Except for one Egyptian who died from being crushed in a crowd, everyone else died from the extreme heat.”
The Hajj is known as the most sacred religious ceremony and one of the five duties that Muslims must perform. It is held annually from the 7th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the 12th month of the Islamic lunar calendar. This year’s Haji continues until the 19th. Saudi authorities have stated that about 1.8 million pilgrims have visited the holy site so far, and 1.6 million of them are international arrivals.
However, this year’s Hajj coincides with the summer, and extreme weather events resulting from climate change have led to a heatwave.
AFP reported, “In Mecca, pilgrims were seen pouring water on their heads to escape the extreme heat, and volunteers were seen distributing cool drinks and chocolates. Some pilgrims witnessed motionless bodies on the roadside, and occasionally saw paramedics who didn’t know what to do.”
Earlier, Saudi authorities announced that they treated more than 2,000 pilgrims suffering from heat-related illnesses. However, they have not updated this figure since June 16 nor have they provided information on the deceased.
According to the Saudi National Center for Meteorology, the temperature at the Grand Mosque of Mecca, Masjid al-Haram, reached 125 degrees Fahrenheit on June 17.
