At least 550 pilgrims have died during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, which again unfolded in scorching temperatures this year.
The background: At least 323 of those who died were Egyptian, most of them succumbing to heat-related illnesses, two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses told the Agence France-Press.
The total figure came from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighbourhood of Mecca. At least 60 Jordanians also died, the diplomats said. Other countries to report deaths included Indonesia, Iran and Senegal.
What else to know: The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means to do so must complete it at least once.
The pilgrimage is increasingly affected by climate change. Temperatures hit 51.8C in Mecca on Monday, and Saudi authorities have reported treating thousands of pilgrims suffering from heat stress.
The hajj pilgrimage is increasingly affected by climate change. Source: AAP / Rafiq Maqbool/AP
At least 240 pilgrims were reported dead by various countries last year, most of them Indonesian. Around 1.8 million pilgrims took part in the hajj this year, 1.6 million of them from abroad.
Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform the hajj through irregular channels as they cannot afford the often costly procedures for official hajj visas.
This places them at risk as they cannot access air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities along the hajj route.
One of the diplomats said the Egyptian death toll was “absolutely” boosted by a large number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims.
What happens next: Egypt’s foreign ministry said Cairo was collaborating with Saudi authorities on search operations for Egyptians who had gone missing during the hajj.
