The scorching heat at Mecca’s Grand Mosque reached a staggering 51.8 degrees Celsius on June 17. Among the casualties, the largest number were Egyptian pilgrims, accompanied by at least 60 Jordanians and 5 Iranians.
According to reports from Saudi Arabia’s diplomatic sources on Tuesday, the Hajj pilgrimage this year saw a tragic toll of at least 550 pilgrims succumbing to extreme heat-related conditions. The soaring temperatures at Mecca’s Grand Mosque, reaching a searing 51.8 degrees Celsius on Monday, contributed significantly to this unfortunate outcome. Among the deceased, the majority were Egyptian pilgrims, alongside at least 60 Jordanians and 5 Iranians.
Of the total fatalities, 323 were Egyptian pilgrims, with heat-related ailments cited as the primary cause, as reported by two Arab diplomats involved in coordinating their nations’ responses, according to AFP. These diplomats referenced information from the hospital morgue in Mecca’s Al-Muaisem neighborhood, affirming that all Egyptian victims perished due to heat-related issues.
The death toll among Jordanian pilgrims reportedly climbed to 60, surpassing the earlier count of 41 provided by Amman. This brings the total number of deaths across various countries to 577, according to media estimates.
However, Saudi Arabia’s health ministry refuted claims of significant heat-related deaths among this year’s pilgrims. Jameel Abualenain, a health ministry official, attributed the diverse health conditions and pre-existing illnesses among the pilgrims as contributing factors. He emphasized the varying comorbidities, age groups, and medication adherence among the pilgrims.
Temperatures during the Hajj have been steadily rising, as highlighted by a recent Saudi study published in the Journal of Travel and Medicine, indicating an increase of 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade in Hajj ritual areas due to climate change.
While Saudi authorities acknowledged treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress, there have been no updates on the death toll since Sunday. Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed collaboration with Saudi authorities in locating missing Egyptians but did not specify casualty figures.
Last year, numerous nations reported at least 240 deaths among pilgrims, predominantly Indonesians, during the Hajj pilgrimage.
