Over 1,300 people died due to extreme heat during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, a tragic loss of life in the desert. The Saudi Health Minister reported that most of these deaths, about 83%, were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in the scorching temperatures.
The Hajj is one of the most important events in Islam. Every year, millions of Muslims travel to Mecca to perform this religious duty. However, this year’s pilgrimage faced unique challenges due to the intense heat.
Many of the people who died didn’t have proper documents, which made it hard to identify them. The Saudi government had to bury these unidentified pilgrims in Mecca. Out of the total deaths, more than 660 were Egyptians, and most of them were unauthorized pilgrims.
The Egyptian government took action against 16 travel agencies that helped unauthorized pilgrims get to Saudi Arabia. These agencies sold tourist visas to people who wanted to perform the Hajj, which is against Saudi rules. This left many pilgrims stranded in Mecca without proper shelter from the heat.
Other countries also reported deaths among their citizens. Indonesia lost 165 pilgrims, India lost 98, and there were also deaths from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Malaysia, and even two from the United States.
The extreme heat played a major role in these deaths. During the Hajj, temperatures in Mecca and nearby areas reached between 117°F and 120°F. Many pilgrims fainted or got sick from the heat, especially during rituals like the symbolic stoning of the devil.
While deaths during the Hajj aren’t uncommon due to the large crowds, this year’s number was unusually high. In the past, most deaths were usually caused by stampedes or accidents. For example, in 2015, over 2,400 people died in a stampede, which was the deadliest incident in Hajj history.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars to make the Hajj safer, but the huge number of people makes it challenging to protect everyone. This year, more than 1.83 million Muslims performed the Hajj, including over 1.6 million from other countries.
The timing of the Hajj changes each year because it follows the Islamic lunar calendar. It moves about 11 days earlier every year. By 2029, the Hajj will happen in April, and for a few years after that, it will be in winter when it’s cooler.
This year’s tragedy highlights the disregard Saudi authorities have for safety measures and will call for a rethinking in how the Hajj is managed in extreme weather conditions.