Diplomats reported on Tuesday that at least 550 pilgrims died during this year’s hajj, highlighting the harsh conditions faced during the pilgrimage, which was marked by extreme temperatures.
Among the deceased, at least 323 were Egyptians, most of whom succumbed to heat-related illnesses, according to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses with AFP. Only one Egyptian death resulted from injuries sustained during a minor crowd crush, with the overall death toll derived from records at a hospital morgue in Mecca’s Al-Muaisem neighborhood.
Additionally, the diplomats confirmed that at least 60 Jordanians had died, surpassing an earlier official tally of 41 by Amman. This new information brings the total reported deaths to 577 from multiple countries, based on an AFP tally.
The hajj, a fundamental pillar of Islam, requires all Muslims with the means to complete it at least once in their lifetime. However, the pilgrimage is increasingly impacted by climate change, as noted in a recent Saudi study that highlighted a 0.4-degree Celsius temperature rise each decade in the region. On Monday, temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, according to Saudi meteorological data.
Egypt’s foreign ministry indicated that it was collaborating with Saudi authorities to locate Egyptians missing during the hajj. While acknowledging some deaths, the ministry did not specify if Egyptians were among them.
Saudi authorities have treated over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not updated this figure since Sunday nor provided specific fatality information. Last year, over 240 pilgrims, mostly Indonesians, were reported dead by various countries.
AFP journalists observed pilgrims in Mina, outside Mecca, attempting to cool down by pouring water over their heads, receiving cold drinks, and fast-melting ice cream from volunteers. Despite advice from Saudi officials to use umbrellas and avoid peak sun hours, many hajj rituals require prolonged outdoor activities during the day.
Some pilgrims recounted seeing unresponsive bodies along the roadside and overwhelmed ambulance services. Approximately 1.8 million pilgrims participated in this year’s hajj, including 1.6 million from abroad, according to Saudi authorities.
A significant number of pilgrims attempt the hajj through unofficial channels, unable to afford the official hajj visa costs. This places them at risk, lacking access to air-conditioned facilities provided along the hajj route. The large number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims reportedly contributed to chaos and service breakdowns in official camps.
Earlier, Saudi officials had removed hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca in preparation for the hajj. Other countries reporting deaths during this year’s pilgrimage include Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal, though specifics on heat-related fatalities were not always provided.
Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel stated that health plans for the hajj were successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Health officials conducted over 5,800 virtual consultations for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt interventions.
