More than 550 Hajj Pilgrims Die in Mecca as Temperatures Exceed 50°C

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At least 550 pilgrims have died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, highlighting the severe challenges posed by extreme heat. The temperatures during the pilgrimage soared past 50°C, leading to a significant number of heat-related deaths and illnesses. Among the deceased, 323 were Egyptians, most of whom succumbed to heat-related illnesses, according to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries' responses. "All of them [the Egyptians] died because of heat," except for one individual who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, one diplomat stated, noting that the figures were sourced from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood of Mecca.

 

In addition to the Egyptians, at least 60 Jordanians have died, an increase from an earlier official tally of 41 provided by Amman. The overall death toll reported by multiple countries now stands at 577, based on an AFP tally. The diplomats noted that the total count at the Al-Muaisem morgue was 550. Egypt’s foreign ministry reported collaborating with Saudi authorities to locate Egyptians who had gone missing during the Hajj. While the ministry acknowledged a certain number of deaths, it did not specify if Egyptians were among them.

 

Saudi authorities have treated more than 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress, although they have not updated this figure since Sunday and have not provided details on fatalities. Last year, 240 pilgrims were reported dead, most of them Indonesians. The Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be completed at least once by all Muslims with the means to do so. The pilgrimage has increasingly been affected by climate change. A Saudi study published last month indicated that temperatures in the areas where Hajj rituals are performed have been rising by 0.4°C (0.72°F) each decade.

 

On Monday, temperatures at the Grand Mosque in Mecca reached 51.8°C, according to the Saudi national meteorology center. AFP journalists in Mina, near Mecca, observed pilgrims pouring bottles of water over their heads as volunteers distributed cold drinks and quickly melting chocolate ice cream to help them stay cool. Saudi officials had advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, drink plenty of water, and avoid sun exposure during the hottest parts of the day. However, many Hajj rituals, including the prayers on Mount Arafat, require being outdoors for extended periods during the daytime.

 

Some pilgrims reported seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and described overwhelmed ambulance services. Approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in this year's Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from abroad, according to Saudi authorities. Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform the Hajj without securing official visas to save money. These unregistered pilgrims face greater risks as they lack access to air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities. One diplomat noted that the Egyptian death toll was likely increased by a large number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims.

 

Earlier this month, Saudi officials removed hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca before the Hajj began. Other countries, including Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal, have also reported deaths during this year's pilgrimage. However, most countries have not specified how many deaths were due to heat.

 

Hosting the Hajj is a significant source of prestige for the Saudi royal family, with King Salman holding the title "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in Mecca and Medina. Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel stated on Tuesday that health plans for the Hajj had been successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks and other public health threats, according to the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

A virtual hospital provided over 5,800 virtual consultations to pilgrims, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt intervention and mitigating the potential for a surge in cases, the SPA reported.

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-06-20

 

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[Tug]

That’s a very high price to pay for any pilgrimage………