Hajj 2024 / The scorching heat in Mecca became fatal, more than 550 Haj pilgrims died, so many were treated

Hajj 2024: Rising temperatures around the world are causing many problems. In India alone, the death toll from heatwave has crossed 65. The condition of the Gulf country Saudi Arabia is even worse, already deadly heat prevails in Saudi. But this time, breaking all records, the temperature has crossed 50 degrees. On Tuesday, the Saudi government informed that about 577 Hajj pilgrims have died due to severe heat.

Among the Hajj pilgrims who died, the highest number of pilgrims, about 323, are from Egypt. Officials told AFP that one of the Egyptian citizens who died died after getting injured after colliding with the crowd, the rest of the deaths have been attributed to heat. Citizens of many countries are among the Hajj pilgrims who died. Amman officials said that about 60 Hajj pilgrims from Jordan have died.

Hajj is being affected by climate change

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is mandatory for all capable Muslims to perform it at least once. According to a Saudi report released last month, climate change is affecting the Haj pilgrimage significantly. The report says that the temperature in the places where Haj is performed is increasing by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) every decade. According to the Saudi Arabia Meteorological Department, this year the temperature in the Grand Mosque of Mecca reached 51.8 degrees Celsius.

The number of deaths has more than doubled

Last year, about 240 pilgrims died due to heat during Haj, most of whom were citizens of Indonesia. According to Saudi officials, about two thousand Haj pilgrims who fell ill due to heat are being treated. Meanwhile, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday that they are working with Saudi officials to search for Egyptians who went missing during the Qahira Haj.

❗🔥🇸🇦 - During the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, at least 323 Egyptian pilgrims died, mainly due to heat-related illnesses, according to Arab diplomats.

Only one of the deaths was caused by injuries at a small gathering.

Additionally, 60 Jordanians also died, exceeding… pic.twitter.com/fRDdKEz61t

— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) June 18, 2024