The consequences of the extreme heat in Saudi Arabia have been devastating for Muslim pilgrims. At least 323 Egyptians died during the hajj, the great Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the vast majority of whom succumbed to heat-related illnesses, two Arab diplomats announced Tuesday to Agence France-Presse (AFP).
“All died because of the heat”except for one pilgrim who was injured during a crowd movement, one of the diplomats said, adding that the total figure came from the morgue of a hospital in Mecca’s Al-Muaisem district. .
At least 60 Jordanians also died, according to these diplomats, more than the official death toll of 41 announced earlier by Amman. Other countries reporting deaths this year also include Tunisia, Indonesia, Iran and Senegal. These figures bring to 577 the number of deaths during the pilgrimage announced by the different countries, according to a report established by AFP. The diplomats added that 550 bodies had been transported to the Al-Muaisem morgue, one of the largest in Mecca.
More than 1.8 million pilgrims gathered
More than 1.8 million Muslims gathered on Friday to begin the great annual pilgrimage to Mecca, in western Saudi Arabia, according to Saudi authorities. Gathered in the heart of the Al-Haram mosque (or the Great Mosque), the pilgrims first perform the rite of tawaf, which involves circling the Kaaba, the black cubic structure to which Muslims around the world head to pray. They then spend the night in air-conditioned tents in Mina, a valley overlooked by rocky mountains located a few kilometers from Mecca.
The hajj, which consists of a series of codified rites which take place over several days in the heart of Mecca and its surroundings, is one of the five pillars of Islam. All Muslims are expected to perform the hajj at least once in their life if they can afford it. Some sometimes wait years for the chance to make the trip, permits being allocated each year by the kingdom on the basis of quotas per country.
With the high temperatures in Saudi Arabia, which can reach 48°C, the rituals are grueling for the faithful. According to Saudi Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Abdulali, more than 10,000 cases of heat-related illnesses were recorded last year. After the tragedy of 2015, when a gigantic stampede caused the death of 2,300 people, the authorities carried out major developments, notably at the Al-Haram mosque, whose expansion work should be completed in 2025 .
The pilgrimage is increasingly being impacted by climate change, a Saudi study published in May warned, which found that temperatures at sites where rituals take place are increasing by 0.4°C every ten years.