19 Pilgrims Die in Intense Heat During Hajj in Saudi Arabia

During the holy Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at least 19 pilgrims from Jordan and Iran have died due to the extreme heat. Authorities from both countries reported the deaths on Sunday, stating that the pilgrims succumbed to heat-related illnesses.

In a statement, Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed that at least 14 Jordanian pilgrims died from heatstroke while performing Hajj rituals, with an additional 17 reported missing. Meanwhile, Pirhossein Kolivand, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent, separately reported that five Iranian pilgrims have died so far during Hajj in Mecca and Medina, although he did not provide details on the causes of their deaths.

Hajj is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world and is considered one of the five pillars of Islam. According to religious obligations, every adult Muslim who is physically and financially capable must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime.

In Saudi Arabia, a desert country, temperatures have soared past 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite the extreme heat, approximately 1.8 million Muslims from around the world have undertaken the pilgrimage.

Many Hajj rituals are performed outdoors and on foot, presenting significant challenges, especially for elderly pilgrims. The Saudi government has not released any information on casualties during the Hajj but has implemented various measures to mitigate the heat, including climate-controlled areas. Additionally, Saudi authorities have advised pilgrims to stay hydrated and protect themselves from the sun, distributing free water to aid in this effort.

A Saudi official told the French news agency AFP that over 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded during last year’s Hajj, with about 10% of those cases being heatstroke.

A Saudi study indicated that the regional temperature in the country is increasing by an average of 0.4 degrees Celsius per decade, and despite the implementation of mitigation measures, the heatwave conditions are worsening