During this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca, Islamic believers have encountered extreme high temperatures in this desert kingdom, with more than 1,300 people reported dead as of Sunday.
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Health, Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, stated on Sunday (June 23) that out of the 1,301 reported deaths, 83% were unauthorized pilgrims who embarked on the pilgrimage rituals in Mecca and its surrounding areas under scorching heat.
In an interview with the state-owned Saudi television channel, Al Ekhbariya TV, the minister mentioned that 95 pilgrims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with some airlifted to the capital, Riyadh, for medical care. He disclosed that the identification process has been delayed due to many deceased pilgrims lacking proper identification documents.
The deceased have been laid to rest in Mecca, although specific details were not disclosed.
Among the fatalities, over 660 were Egyptians. Officials in Cairo stated that with the exception of 31 individuals, all others were unauthorized pilgrims.
The Egyptian Crisis Department, responsible for investigating the situation, announced on Saturday (June 22) that the licenses of 16 travel companies have been revoked and passed on to the prosecutor, charging these companies with accountability for the deaths.
The Egyptian government declared that these 16 travel agencies failed to provide adequate services for the pilgrims.
According to reports from the Egyptian publication “Al-Ahram,” some travel agencies sold Saudi Arabian travel visas to Egyptian pilgrims, contravening Saudi Arabia’s requirement for pilgrims to acquire specific visas. These agencies were accused of putting the pilgrims in distress amid the scorching heat.
Authorities in Saudi Arabia have cracked down on unauthorized pilgrims, expelling tens of thousands of individuals. However, many, predominantly Egyptians, managed to reach the sacred sites in and around Mecca, some on foot. Unlike approved pilgrims, they did not have accommodations to seek refuge from the extreme heat.
Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the deaths occurring during the pilgrimage.
Hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, is the largest annual gathering of Muslims worldwide. Muslims are encouraged to make this trip to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
The Saudi Arabian National Meteorological Center reported that during this year’s pilgrimage, daily temperatures in Mecca and its vicinity ranged between 46 degrees Celsius (117 degrees Fahrenheit) and 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
Reporters from the Associated Press observed pilgrims fainting due to the intense heat, especially on the second and third days of the pilgrimage. Some individuals experienced vomiting and collapsing.
The Egyptian government announced that 31 registered pilgrims under the official system died due to chronic illnesses during this year’s pilgrimage but did not provide official statistics for other pilgrims. Egypt reported over 50,000 approved pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia this year.
Indonesian government data revealed 236 Indonesian fatalities, while the Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that 98 Indian citizens died during the pilgrimage.
Tunisia, Jordan, Iran, and Senegal have also reported additional death cases.
(Partial information sourced from the Associated Press)