Mecca

Arab diplomats stated on Tuesday that not less than 550 worshipers had died as a consequence of excessive warmth throughout this 12 months’s hajj, the main Muslim pilgrimage in western Saudi Arabia, principally Egyptian.

The annual pilgrimage, from Friday to Sunday, occurred this summer time on this area, the place temperatures are among the many highest on the planet: the mercury reached 51.8° Celsius in Mecca, thought of the holiest place in Islam.

Not less than 323 pilgrims from Egypt died, the overwhelming majority of them as a consequence of very excessive temperatures, two Arab diplomats, who spoke on situation of anonymity, instructed AFP on Tuesday.
“All of them died due to the warmth,” excluding one who succumbed after being injured when he was trampled by a crowd, one of many sources stated. He clarified that the entire quantity was given by a mortuary to a hospital within the Al Muaysem district of Mecca.

In keeping with diplomats, some 550 our bodies have been dropped at the mortuary in Al Muaysem, one of many largest within the holy metropolis.
Primarily based on an AFP rely, a complete of 577 individuals died throughout the pilgrimage. It isn’t clear whether or not all died due to the warmth or from different causes.

Egypt’s international ministry stated earlier yesterday that it was finishing up “search operations for Egyptians who have been declared lacking throughout the hajj”, citing “a sure variety of deaths”.

Saudi authorities introduced on Sunday that round 2,000 worshipers with heatstroke had been handled, however didn’t say whether or not or what number of had succumbed.

Among the many victims have been additionally not less than 60 Jordanians, in keeping with diplomats, whereas the Hashemite kingdom’s international ministry stated earlier yesterday that 41 permits had been issued to permit worshipers to be buried in Mecca.

The Hajj, one of many world’s largest spiritual gatherings, is likely one of the 5 pillars of Islam, and believers who’re in a position should make the good pilgrimage not less than as soon as of their lifetime.

However this spiritual gathering is more and more struggling the results of local weather change. A Saudi research launched in Might urged that temperatures in locations the place ceremonies are held are rising by 0.4°C each ten years.

Saudi authorities had suggested worshipers to make use of umbrellas, drink loads of water and keep away from publicity to the solar throughout the hottest hours of the day.

However many ceremonies occurred throughout the day.

In keeping with diplomats who spoke to AFP, the excessive loss of life toll of Egyptians was so heavy as a result of many had not obtained permits, that means they’d no entry to meals, water, air-conditioning or shelter.

There have been additionally reported deaths of believers from nations akin to Tunisia, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal…

About 1.8 million worshipers took half within the nice pilgrimage this 12 months, the overwhelming majority of them (1.6 million) foreigners, in keeping with the dominion’s authorities.