Saudi Arabia Confirms Over 1.3K Pilgrims Died During Heat-Stricken Hajj

Facts

• Saudi Arabia issued a statement Sunday confirming that 1,301 people died during the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca this year due to extreme heat, with some individuals still under care.¹
• This comes as a senior Saudi official said Friday that 577 deaths were reported on the two busiest days of the Hajj season when pilgrims stand in vigil at Mount Arafat and perform the so-called 'stoning of the devil ritual' in Mina.²
• According to a tally from multiple countries compiled by AFP and updated as of Friday, two days after the Hajj formally came to an end, the death toll was at 1,126 — more than half of them from Egypt.³
• Additionally, Indonesia, India, Iran, Jordan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, and Iraqi Kurdistan have all confirmed the deaths of their residents in the Hajj, and a number of Americans are also believed to have died.⁴
• Temperatures hit at least 51.8°C (125°F) in the shade in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, as more than 1.8M pilgrims were expected to take part in the religious journey that began June 14.⁵
• Given that Islam follows the 354-day lunar calendar, Hajj moves by up to 11 days earlier every year. Heat-related risks are likely to increase from 2047 to 2052 and from 2079 to 2086, when Hajj will take place during the hottest summer months.⁶

Sources: ¹CNN, ²Guardian, ³France 24, ⁴BBC News, ⁵Sky News and ⁶Washington Post.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by MIT News. Every year that passes worsens the health threat to pilgrims attending Hajj due to climate change. The extreme heat during summer in Saudi Arabia may make the risks associated with the pilgrimage unbearable, yet crowds continue to participate in an event known for deadly stampedes and other fatal incidents. Although a significant part of Muslim worship, the safety of this pilgrimage should be scrutinized in the interests of its attendees.
• Narrative B, as provided by Saudigazette. Saudi Arabia allocated resources to ensure the well-being of pilgrims and mitigate a potential surge in heat-related illnesses as huge crowds packed Mecca amid high temperatures — even raising awareness of the importance of preventive measures. However, hundreds of deaths have sadly been recorded as unauthorized pilgrims performed Hajj who were walking long distances under direct sunlight, with inadequate shelter and comfort.

Predictions