Over 1,300 dead in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage due to extreme heat

Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel stated that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who endured long treks in soaring temperatures to perform the Hajj rituals in and around the holy city of Mecca.

Minister Al-Jalajel mentioned that 95 pilgrims are currently being treated in hospitals, with some airlifted to Riyadh for further medical care. The minister noted that the identification process for many of the deceased has been delayed due to the lack of identification documents.

The deceased were buried in Mecca, though the minister did not provide a detailed breakdown of the fatalities.

Among the dead were more than 660 Egyptians, of whom all but 31 were unauthorized pilgrims, according to officials in Cairo. In response to the tragedy, Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies that facilitated unauthorized pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.

The high temperatures and the strenuous conditions faced by unauthorized pilgrims have raised concerns and highlighted the need for stricter regulations and better preparation for future Hajj pilgrimages to prevent such tragedies. (ILKHA)