Saudi Arabia’s Makkah has seen at least 577 Hajj pilgrim deaths in recent days as a result of the nation’s extreme heat.
The high temperatures this year caused at least 550 pilgrims to pass away during the Hajj trip, according to the final figure obtained from the hospital morgue in Makkah’s Al Muaisem neighborhood.
AFP reports that the overall number of deaths reported by various nations thus far has risen to 577.
When two Arab diplomats coordinated the reactions of their respective nations, they discovered that 323 Egyptian pilgrims had perished, the most of them from illnesses brought on by the heat.
One of the diplomats stated, “All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat,” with the exception of one who died after suffering severe injuries in a small crowd crush.
The ambassadors insisted that at least 60 Jordanians perished as well, complementing Amman’s official toll of 41 announced earlier on Tuesday.
A Saudi report released last month claimed that the Hajj pilgrimage is becoming more and more impacted by climate change, with temperatures in the pilgrimage area growing by 0.4°C every ten years.
The Saudi National Meteorological Center reported that on Monday, temperatures at the Grand Mosque in Makkah reached 51.8°C.
Last year, at least 240 pilgrim deaths were recorded by several nations; the majority of the victims were Indonesians.
In order to stay cool, pilgrims in Mina, outside of Makkah, were observed on Monday pouring water bottles over their heads as volunteers distributed cold beverages and chocolate ice cream that melted quickly.
Pilgrims were instructed by Saudi officials to carry umbrellas, stay hydrated, and stay out of the heat during the hottest parts of the day.
Some pilgrims reported witnessing lifeless bodies at the side of the road and occasionally feeling overrun by medical services.
This year, almost 1.8 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from outside the country, according to Saudi officials.
