More than 500 Hajj pilgrims died due to severe heat in Mecca, temperature reached close to 52°C

This year, India is witnessing severe heat wave. Saudi Arabia is also witnessing the havoc of heat. The situation is such that at least 550 pilgrims have died during Haj amid the scorching heat. At least 323 of the dead were Egyptian citizens, most of whom died due to heat-related problems. A diplomat said that all but one of the 323 Haj pilgrims from Egypt died due to heat. At the same time, one Haj pilgrim was injured during the rush. This figure has come from the hospital morgue in Al-Muaisam near Mecca.

60 people from Jordan died

According to diplomats, at least 60 Jordanians have also died, while on Tuesday Amman officially reported the death of 41 people. According to the AFP report, with the latest figures, the total number of deaths reported by several countries so far has gone up to 577. Diplomats said a total of 550 bodies were at Al-Muaisam, one of Mecca’s largest morgues.

With the latest figures, the total number of deaths reported by several countries so far has risen to 577, AFP reported

According to Saudi research published last month, the Hajj pilgrimage is being rapidly affected by climate change. The research also said that the temperature in the area where the rituals are performed is rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) every decade. The Saudi National Meteorological Center said that on Monday the temperature at Mecca’s Grand Mosque reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit).

Heat hits Hajj pilgrims

On Tuesday, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said Cairo was working closely with Saudi authorities to search for Egyptians missing during the Hajj. While the ministry statement said there had been “a certain number of deaths”, it was not clear whether Egyptians were among them. Saudi authorities reported treating more than 2,000 pilgrims suffering from heat, but have not updated that figure since Sunday and have not provided information about deaths.

More than 200 Hajj pilgrims died last year too

Last year, various countries reported the deaths of at least 240 pilgrims, most of them Indonesian citizens. AFP journalists in Mina, outside Mecca, on Monday saw pilgrims pouring water bottles on their heads, while volunteers handed out cold drinks and chocolate ice cream to keep them cool. Saudi authorities had advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water and avoid going out in the sun during the hottest hours of the day.

AFP journalists in Mina, outside Mecca, on Monday saw pilgrims pouring water bottles on their heads, while volunteers handed out cold drinks and chocolate ice cream to keep them cool.

1.8 million pilgrims took part in Hajj

According to Saudi authorities, around 1.8 million pilgrims took part in Hajj this year, of which 1.6 million were foreigners. Every year, thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform Hajj through irregular channels because they cannot afford the often costly procedures for official Hajj visas. This further increases the risk for unregistered pilgrims as they cannot use the air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities along the Hajj route.

An Egyptian official overseeing the country’s Hajj mission said, “Irregular pilgrims caused a lot of problems in the Egyptian pilgrim camps, bringing services to a standstill.” “The pilgrims stayed without food, water or air conditioning for a long time.” They “died from the heat as most had no place to take shelter.” Earlier this month, Saudi authorities said they had expelled hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the Hajj.

Which countries’ citizens died due to heat in Mecca

Other countries that reported deaths during Hajj this year include Indonesia, Iran and Senegal. Most countries have not said how many deaths were related to heat. Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman al-Jalajel said on Tuesday that health plans for Hajj have been “successfully implemented”, preventing major outbreaks of disease and other public health threats.