Saudi Arabia has reported that more than 1,300 pilgrims died during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, with temperatures reaching the highest levels seen in two decades.
The Saudi Press Agency stated that the majority of these fatalities were unregistered pilgrims who lacked authorization to participate and undertook long journeys without adequate shelter. Many of the deceased were elderly and chronically ill.
This year’s Hajj, which concluded on June 18, saw temperatures soar to approximately 52°C (126°F), the highest recorded during the pilgrimage in 20 years, according to data from the Saudi National Center for Meteorology.
Over 1.8 million worshippers participated in the five-day event, which has historically faced challenges due to large crowds and extreme weather conditions.
The fatalities underscore the growing risks posed by rising global temperatures. Similar heat-related deaths have been reported in India, while wildfires have prompted evacuations in Greece.
Parts of the United States are also grappling with a heatwave, raising concerns that increasing temperatures may render parts of the Middle East uninhabitable in the future.
Saudi authorities had earlier warned about the “significant rise in temperatures, which poses a threat to the health of pilgrims.”
The health ministry urged pilgrims to use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. On one particularly hot day, over 2,700 cases of heat stroke were reported.
Most of the deceased pilgrims hailed from countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Indonesia, India, and Pakistan, according to reports from Agence-France Presse, citing diplomats.
Historically, deaths at Hajj are not uncommon, occurring due to various reasons including stampedes and heat strokes. In 2015, a stampede led to hundreds of deaths.
A severe heat stroke incident in 1985, when the pilgrimage took place in August and temperatures reached 54°C, resulted in 1,012 deaths, according to the Annals of Saudi Medicine.
This year, the Saudi health ministry provided treatment to nearly half a million people, including 141,000 unauthorized pilgrims.
Medical services offered included open-heart surgeries, cardiac care, and air ambulance operations. Also, almost 6,500 beds and rooms were made available for those needing care.
Despite the tragic loss of life, the Saudi health minister praised the “successful execution of health management efforts” during this year’s Hajj season, as reported by the Saudi Press Agency on Sunday.
