This year, Saudi Arabian authorities have released updated data showing that over 1,000 people have lost their lives during the Hajj pilgrimage due to the extreme heat. Tragically, many of these individuals arrived in Mecca without the necessary pilgrim visa and were therefore deprived of access to essential tourism infrastructure.
Sadly, this year has seen a significant number of casualties from countries all around the world. In Egypt, 600 pilgrims have tragically passed away during the Hajj. The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia has confirmed that 183 of their citizens have also died while participating in the pilgrimage, while 68 Indian pilgrims have suffered a similar fate. Additionally, there have been casualties from countries such as Algeria, Pakistan, Russia, and others.
The scorching temperatures in Mecca have been especially brutal this year, with the mercury soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius on June 17th. Saudi meteorologists have also noted a concerning trend of the average temperature in the kingdom increasing by 0.4 degrees every decade. This relentless heat has undoubtedly had a devastating impact on the health and safety of pilgrims from all around the world.
Despite efforts to improve tourism infrastructure and provide adequate support for pilgrims, it seems that more needs to be done to address the extreme temperatures and prevent further tragedies from occurring during future Hajj pilgrimages.
