The annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has been marred by tragedy as at least 19 pilgrims from Jordan and Iran have died from heatstroke, with 17 others still missing. Jordan’s foreign ministry confirmed the deaths, attributing them to the intense heat experienced during the pilgrimage. Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent chief, Pirhossein Koolivand, reported five Iranian pilgrims died in Mecca and Medina during the Hajj, though the cause of death was not specified. Saudi Arabia, however, has not released any information about the deaths.
This news follows a previous report by CNN on June 16 that six people had succumbed to heatstroke during the pilgrimage. The Jordanian foreign ministry is working with Saudi officials to facilitate burial procedures and potentially return the bodies to Jordan.
Temperatures in Saudi Arabia have soared above 46 degrees Celsius this week, posing significant challenges to pilgrims, particularly the elderly, as many Hajj rituals are conducted outdoors and on foot. Ayman Ghulam, the head of Saudi national meteorology center, highlighted the expected climate conditions for Hajj, stating that temperatures in Mecca and Medina would be 1.5 to 2 degrees higher than normal. He predicted a relative humidity of 25%, negligible rainfall, and an average maximum temperature of 44 degrees.
The heat-related deaths during this year’s pilgrimage echo the tragic events of last year when at least 240 people, many from Indonesia, died during the Hajj, though the specific causes were not disclosed. Over 10,000 heat-related illnesses, including 10% heat strokes, were recorded, as reported by a Saudi official to AFP.
Despite a history of deadly incidents like stampedes and fires, the main challenge faced annually is the intense heat. This year’s Hajj, with over 1.8 million pilgrims, has once again underscored the dangers posed by extreme temperatures during the pilgrimage. Pilgrims from all over the world converge in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to perform the Hajj rituals, retracing the steps of Prophet Muhammad on their spiritual journey.
