Hajj 2024: Extreme heat kills at least 550, mostly Egyptian pilgrims

Earlier this month, Saudi officials reported clearing hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the hajj.

Intense heat has claimed at least 550 pilgrims during this year's Hajj, news agency AFP reported on Tuesday, quoting diplomats. The deceased include 323 Egyptians who primarily succumbed to heat-related illnesses, according to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries' responses.

"All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat" except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, AFP reported, noting that the total figure was confirmed by the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighborhood of Mecca.

The death toll for Jordanians rose to at least 60, up from an earlier official tally of 41 reported by Amman on Tuesday.

These new fatalities bring the overall reported death toll to 577, according to an AFP tally. The morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of the largest in Mecca, recorded 550 bodies, the diplomats said.

Scorching Heat and Health Strain

The Hajj, one of Islam's five pillars, must be undertaken by all Muslims at least once in their lifetime. However, the demand for the pilgrimage is increasingly exacerbated by climate change, as noted in a recent Saudi study revealing a 0.4 degrees Celsius rise per decade in the area where Hajj rituals are performed.

On Monday, temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius at Mecca's Grand Mosque, AFP reported, citing the Saudi Met Office.

Earlier on Tuesday, Egypt's foreign ministry announced collaboration with the Saudi authorities to search for missing Egyptian pilgrims. Although a ministry statement acknowledged "a certain number of deaths", it did not specify if Egyptians were among them.

While the Saudi authorities reported treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress, they have not updated this figure since Sunday, nor have they provided specific information on fatalities.

A Harrowing Experience

Last year, at least 240 pilgrims, mostly Indonesians, were reported dead. This year, AFP journalists in Mina observed pilgrims drenching themselves with water and volunteers distributing cold drinks and ice cream to help them cope with the heat.

Saudi officials advised the pilgrims to use umbrellas, stay hydrated, and avoid the sun during peak hours. Despite these measures, many Hajj rituals, including prayers on Mount Arafat, require prolonged outdoor exposure during the day.

Some pilgrims reported seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and overburdened ambulance services. This year, around 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from abroad, according to the Saudi authorities.

Perils of Unregistered Pilgrims

Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt the Hajj through irregular channels, unable to afford official visa procedures. These off-the-books pilgrims lack access to air-conditioned facilities provided by the Saudi authorities, increasing their vulnerability.

One diplomat indicated that the high number of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims significantly contributed to the death toll. An Egyptian official overseeing the country's Hajj mission noted that irregular pilgrims caused chaos, leading to service collapses and prolonged deprivation of food, water, and air-conditioning.

Earlier this month, Saudi officials reported clearing hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the Hajj.

Global Impact

Other countries, including Indonesia, Iran, and Senegal, have also reported deaths during this year's Hajj. However, most nations have not detailed the causes of these fatalities.

Despite the challenges, Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel announced on Tuesday that health plans for the Hajj were successfully implemented, preventing major disease outbreaks and other public health threats, as reported by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

Health officials provided virtual consultations to over 5,800 pilgrims, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt intervention and mitigating a potential surge in cases, according to SPA.