Source: FADEL SENNA / Getty
The intense heat that has hit Saudi Arabia during the holy pilgrimage season for Muslims it has claimed the lives of over 1,000.
On Thursday (June 20), reports from various sources said that 1,081 people died during the hajj or annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. The high heat – which topped 51.8 degrees Celsius or 125 degrees Fahrenheit at the Grand Mosque in Mecca – in the Middle Eastern nation was cited as the main reason for the deaths, with the total coming from reports compiled by various countries pilgrims had come since the last days.
According to reports, 1.8 million made the pilgrimage this year, with 1.6 million people visiting from foreign countries. The revelation comes just days after Saudi officials declared this year's season “successful”. Minister of Health Fahd al-Jalajel is expressed “Particularly pleased that there have been no outbreaks or other threats to public health despite the significant number of pilgrims and the challenges created by the high temperatures.”
Jordan's official news agency reported on Wednesday (June 19th) that burial permits had been issued for 41 pilgrims from the country. Tunisia's foreign ministry said the previous day that at least 35 citizens of that country had died. The Egyptians accounted for the largest number of casualties of the group with 658 reported dead, according to a diplomatic source. It is believed that 630 of them were not registered with the Saudi authorities, which prevented them from accessing the numerous air-conditioned spaces in the city of Mecca and along the pilgrimage route to cool off.
They have set up an “operations room” to respond to calls from distressed relatives and have staff in Mecca to help bring the dead back to Egypt. India, Russia, Pakistan and Senegal also reported that some of their citizens died on this season's hajj. Hajj is a requirement of every Muslim if they are able, although in recent years the increasing heat has created difficulties for older pilgrims with health problems such as high blood pressure. Climate change is a concern, as the lunar calendar followed by Islam has placed the time for the pilgrimage at the hottest times of the year. Saudi Arabia has worked to provide advanced cooling systems in light of this for all who undertake the hajj.
