Among the deceased, 323 were Egyptians, most of whom succumbed to heat-related illnesses, according to diplomats. One Egyptian fatality resulted from injuries sustained during a minor crowd crush.

Jordan reported 60 deaths, an increase from the 41 confirmed earlier. The total number of deaths reported by various countries now stands at 577, with Saudi officials confirming the number at the Al-Muaisem morgue in Mecca.

The Egyptian foreign ministry has been working with Saudi authorities to locate missing pilgrims. While the ministry acknowledged a number of deaths, it did not specify the number of Egyptian casualties.

Saudi authorities have treated over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not provided updated figures on fatalities since Sunday. Last year, 240 pilgrims died, most of them Indonesians.

A recent Saudi study indicates that temperatures in the region where Hajj rituals are performed have been rising by 0.4°C (0.72°F) each decade. Temperatures peaked at 51.8°C (125.2°F) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, according to the Saudi national meteorology center. Pilgrims were seen pouring water over their heads and receiving cold drinks and ice-cream from volunteers to stay cool.

Despite advisories to use umbrellas, stay hydrated, and avoid the sun during peak hours, many Hajj rituals require prolonged outdoor activities. Pilgrims on Mount Arafat on Saturday faced such conditions, leading to reports of motionless bodies along the roadsides and overwhelmed ambulance services.

Approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in this year’s Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. Many attempted the pilgrimage without official Hajj visas to save money, putting themselves at greater risk as they lacked access to air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities. Diplomatic sources indicated that unregistered pilgrims significantly contributed to the high death toll, particularly among Egyptians.

Saudi officials had earlier removed hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca before the Hajj commenced. Other countries, including Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal, also reported fatalities during the pilgrimage, though most did not specify whether the deaths were heat-related.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel stated that health plans for the Hajj were successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks and other public health threats. The Saudi Press Agency reported that a virtual hospital provided over 5,800 consultations, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt interventions.

Hosting the Hajj is a significant source of prestige for the Saudi royal family, with King Salman holding the title of "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques" in Mecca and Medina.

The tragic events underscore the increasing challenge of conducting the Hajj amid rising global temperatures, and highlight the need for enhanced measures to protect the health and safety of pilgrims. (ILKHA)