Riyadh, June 24: Saudi Arabia reported on Sunday that 1,301 people died during the Hajj pilgrimage, with a significant number of deaths attributed to heat stress and unauthorized pilgrimages accounting for over 80% of the fatalities, CNN reported.
In a statement, the Saudi government said, “The health system addressed numerous cases of heat stress this year, with some individuals still under care. Regrettably, the number of mortalities reached 1,301.” The statement noted that 83% of those who died were “unauthorized to perform Hajj” and “walked long distances under direct sunlight, without adequate shelter or comfort.” The deceased included “several elderly and chronically ill individuals,” and the families of all the deceased have been identified.
Extreme heat has been cited as the primary cause of hundreds of deaths and injuries during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, with temperatures in Mecca reaching a record-setting 125 degrees Fahrenheit on Monday. The situation was exacerbated by the high number of unofficial pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia requires each pilgrim to obtain one of the 1.8 million available licenses to legally access Mecca for Hajj. These licenses can cost several thousand US dollars, and unlicensed pilgrims typically lack access to organized tour buses with air conditioning or adequate supplies of water and food.
The Saudi government suggested that the unauthorized nature of many pilgrimages contributed to the delay in issuing an official death toll, complicating the process of identification. “Identification completed, despite the initial lack of personal information or identification documents. Proper processes were followed for identification, burial, and honoring the deceased, with death certificates provided,” the statement read.
Some pilgrims criticized the poor infrastructure and organization of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Even those on official tours spent much of their day walking outdoors in the scorching heat. Witnesses told CNN they saw worshippers losing consciousness and walking past bodies covered in white cloth.
The announcement comes as the Egyptian government pledged to revoke the licenses of 16 Hajj tourism firms involved in organizing illegal pilgrimages to Mecca and to refer the companies’ managers to the public prosecutor. This decision followed a report highlighting the dubious practices of some tourism firms, including issuing incorrect visas and failing to provide proper accommodation, forcing pilgrims to endure extreme heat.
Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased pilgrims and pledged support.
Hajj permits are allocated based on a quota system, with each pilgrim required to obtain one of the 1.8 million licenses. Due to the high cost of these licenses, many pilgrims attempt to access the site illegally, often without organized support.
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage fell during a period of extreme temperatures due to the Islamic lunar calendar. Pilgrims endured temperatures of up to 49 degrees Celsius while performing various rituals in and around Mecca, involving many hours of walking in the scorching heat.
The total number of deaths from this year’s Hajj could still rise, as governments are aware only of registered pilgrims who visited Mecca as part of their nation’s quota.
