More than 550 Pilgrims Die at Hajj in Mecca as Temperatures Soar

Over 550 pilgrims have died during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius. The fatalities include 323 Egyptians succumbing to heat-related illnesses, raising concerns about the impact of climate change on future pilgrimages.

During the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, more than 550 pilgrims have died as temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit). The deceased include 323 Egyptians, who primarily succumbed to heat-related illnesses.

The extreme heat has also led to fatalities among pilgrims from various countries, including 60 Jordanians, 23 Tunisians, 11 Iranians, and three Senegalese. Additionally, 144 Indonesian pilgrims died, though the cause was not specified as heat-related by the Indonesian health ministry.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every Muslim with the means to perform it at least once. This year, around 1.8 million pilgrims participated, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. Saudi authorities have reported treating over 2,700 cases of heat-related illnesses so far.

The event highlights the increasing challenge of performing Hajj amid rising global temperatures, with concerns being raised about the impact of climate change on future pilgrimages.