Hajj Heatwave Tragedy: Saudi Authorities Announce Death Toll of Over 1,300 Pilgrims

Religion

Hajj Heatwave Tragedy: Saudi Authorities Announce Death Toll of Over 1,300 Pilgrims

Reported by Ayooluwa Afolabi

Saudi Arabia reports that at least 1,300 fatalities occurred during the Hajj pilgrimage, amid scorching temperatures, with the majority of victims being unauthorized pilgrims without official permits.

“Regrettably, the number of mortalities reached 1,301, with 83% being unauthorized to perform hajj and having walked long distances under direct sunlight, without adequate shelter or comfort,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

According to a recent count by Agence France-Presse, based on official diplomatic statements, the death toll has exceeded 1,100, with Egyptian nationals accounting for 658 of these fatalities, including 630 unauthorized pilgrims.

According to The Guardian, Riyadh had not publicly commented on the deaths or provided its toll until Sunday. But a senior Saudi official reported a death toll of 577 on the two most crowded days of the hajj pilgrimage, June 15 and 16, which included the gathering on Mount Arafat for prayers in extreme heat and the \"stoning of the devil\" ritual in Mina.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd al-Jalajel declared the 2024 hajj management a success, despite the heat-related deaths, and expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

He acknowledged efforts to raise awareness about the risks of extreme heat, and offered prayers for the departed, seeking Allah\'s forgiveness and mercy.

The hajj, a sacred obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able, drew 1.8 million pilgrims this year, matching last year\'s attendance, with 1.6 million international participants, according to Saudi officials.

This annual pilgrimage is one of the five fundamental practices of Islam, and it is a once-in-a-lifetime requirement for those who have the means to undertake it.

As of Tuesday, June 18, diplomats revealed that over 550 pilgrims had lost their lives during the hajj pilgrimage, with more than 323 of the deceased being Egyptian nationals, mostly succumbing to heat-related illnesses.

The fatalities also included 60 Jordanians, according to Arab diplomats managing their countries\' responses.

The death toll was confirmed by diplomats citing the morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood, one of Mecca\'s largest facilities, highlighting the challenging conditions exacerbated by extreme temperatures during the pilgrimage.