At least 14 Hajj pilgrims die in intense heat
Jordanian officials have reported that at least 14 of their citizens lost their lives during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to extreme heat.
The country’s foreign ministry stated that these individuals succumbed to sunstroke amid a severe heatwave, with an additional 17 pilgrims reported missing. Searches are ongoing for the missing individuals.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent confirmed that five Iranian pilgrims also died, though the cause of their deaths was not specified.
The Jordanian foreign ministry noted that it is working closely with Saudi authorities to manage the burial or transportation of the deceased as per their families’ wishes.
Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage, draws over 1.8 million pilgrims each year to Mecca and Medina. The event, known for its massive scale, has faced various challenges over the years, including deadly stampedes and fires.
This year, the primary concern has been the intense heat, with temperatures exceeding 46°C (114.8°F), posing significant difficulties for pilgrims, especially the elderly.
A treatment centre near Mount Arafat recorded 225 cases of heat stress, the official Saudi Press Agency reported that
“It’s physically gruelling, but it’s very spiritually charged,” Neron Khan, a Canadian pilgrim told AFP.
She added that during some of the rituals, she was in “some sort of heat exhaustion situation”.
The pilgrimage will end on Wednesday. Saudi officials say as part of heat mitigation measures, they have set up many climate-controlled areas. They distribute water and offer advice to pilgrims on how to protect themselves from the sun.
The Saudi health ministry also issued an advisory, asking pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours of the day between 10:00 and 16:00.
Last year, at least 240 people died. And in the worst Hajj disaster, a deadly crush in 2015 killed more than 2,000 people.
