Hundreds of pilgrims have died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca due to extreme heat, according to multiple reports from press agencies and foreign ministries.
The rising death toll highlights the severe conditions faced by millions of worshippers amid record-breaking temperatures.
At least 550 pilgrims have died, with 323 of them being Egyptians who succumbed primarily to heat-related illnesses, according to diplomats speaking to Agence France Presse (AFP) on Tuesday.
The Hajj pilgrimage, which began on Friday, has a history of tragic incidents including stampedes, tent fires, and other accidents, resulting in numerous fatalities over the past three decades.
This year, temperatures soared to as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade at the holy and Grand Mosque in Mecca, as reported by Saudi state television on Monday.
A 2024 study by the Journal of Travel and Medicine has warned that global temperatures are rising at a rate that may soon outpace current strategies to mitigate heat risks during Hajj.
Several countries have reported fatalities among their citizens:
- Tunisia confirmed the deaths of 35 pilgrims, many due to extreme heat.
- Jordan’s foreign ministry issued 41 burial permits, with at least six confirmed deaths due to heat stroke.
- Iranian state media reported 11 deaths and 24 hospitalizations among pilgrims.
- Senegal reported the deaths of three citizens.
- Indonesia confirmed 144 fatalities, though the causes were not specified.
Despite the hazardous conditions, a Saudi health official told Reuters on Monday that there had been no unusual spike in fatalities among pilgrims.
The ministry reported treating over 2,700 individuals for heat-related illnesses.