As scorching temperatures grip parts of Asia, more than 1,000 pilgrims have tragically lost their lives during this year’s hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to an AFP tally. Reports indicate that a significant number of these deaths occurred among unregistered worshippers who endured extreme heat during the pilgrimage.
Thursday’s reports included 58 deaths from Egypt alone, with 630 of the 658 total fatalities in that country being unregistered pilgrims, as disclosed by an Arab diplomat. Similar reports from around 10 countries have contributed to the tally of 1,081 deaths during this crucial annual Islamic pilgrimage.
The hajj, one of Islam’s five pillars, is scheduled based on the lunar Islamic calendar and this year coincided with Saudi Arabia’s intense summer heat. Weather agencies reported temperatures exceeding 51 degrees Celsius (123.8°F) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca earlier this week, underscoring the challenging conditions faced by pilgrims.
A recent Saudi study highlighted a concerning trend of rising temperatures in the region, increasing by 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade.
Despite efforts by Saudi authorities to clear unregistered pilgrims, many still participated without proper permits, lacking access to essential facilities like air-conditioned areas. This exposed them most severely to the ongoing heatwave.
“People were exhausted after being pursued by security forces before Arafat day,” noted an Arab diplomat, referring to the culmination of the hajj with a day-long outdoor prayer session on Saturday.
The primary causes of death among pilgrims were complications exacerbated by the extreme heat, including issues related to high blood pressure and cardiovascular conditions.
In addition to Egypt, countries such as Malaysia, Pakistan, India, Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, and Iraq’s Kurdistan region have reported fatalities, although specific causes have not always been detailed by authorities.
