Tragic Heatwave During Hajj Claims Hundreds of Lives
At least 577 Muslim pilgrims have tragically died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, with the majority succumbing to heat-related illnesses. According to Arab diplomatic sources, 323 of the deceased were Egyptians. The extreme temperatures, which reached 51.8 degrees Celsius at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, have made this year's pilgrimage particularly deadly.
Rising Temperatures and Heat-Related Deaths
The pilgrimage, which is one of the five pillars of Islam, is increasingly affected by climate change. A recent Saudi study highlighted that temperatures in the Hajj region are rising by 0.4 degrees every decade. Saudi authorities reported treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heatstroke, but have not updated the death toll since Sunday. Many pilgrims were seen pouring water over their heads and seeking shade to combat the intense heat.
Among the deceased, at least 60 were Jordanian pilgrims, with other countries like Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal also reporting fatalities. The Egyptian Foreign Ministry is cooperating with Saudi authorities to locate missing Egyptians, while the total number of deaths has been calculated based on data from various countries.
The Saudi Health Minister stated that health plans for the Hajj were successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks. However, the deaths underscore the urgent need for better heat management strategies during the pilgrimage.
The Hajj saw participation from around 1.8 million pilgrims this year, 1.6 million of whom were from abroad. Many pilgrims attempt to complete the Hajj without official visas, which denies them access to air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities. This has resulted in increased chaos and fatalities among unregistered pilgrims, particularly Egyptians.
- Saudi officials have advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water, and avoid exposure to the sun during the hottest hours of the day. Despite these measures, the intense heat during the Hajj rituals, especially prayers on Mount Arafat, has led to tragic outcomes.
- Earlier this month, Saudi authorities evacuated hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca to prevent overcrowding and ensure safety. However, the lack of access to air-conditioned facilities for these unregistered pilgrims has exacerbated the situation.
- The Egyptian official overseeing the Hajj delegation mentioned that irregular pilgrims caused significant chaos in Egyptian camps, leading to a lack of food, water, and air conditioning. This contributed to the high number of heat-related deaths among Egyptians.
