The death toll from the Hajj, the largest Islamic religious pilgrimage, held under scorching temperatures exceeding 122°F has surpassed 1,000.
According to media reports on the 20th, the death toll from the Hajj reached 1,081 people across approximately 10 countries. Half of them were undocumented pilgrims without Haji visas. Saudi authorities reported deporting tens of thousands of undocumented pilgrims from Mecca earlier this month, but it appears that many undocumented individuals continued to participate in the Hajj that began on the 14th. The registered participants numbered 1.8 million, and those not registered had no access to air-conditioned facilities.
Arab diplomats reported that the newly reported deaths on that day included 58 individuals from Egypt. So far, Egyptians constitute the largest group among the deceased. According to the diplomat, the number of Egyptian fatalities has reached 658, with 630 of them being unregistered pilgrims. The diplomat explained that the primary cause of death among Egyptian pilgrims was complications related to high blood pressure and other issues exacerbated by the extreme heat.
Additional deaths were confirmed in Pakistan and Indonesia as well. A diplomat reported that Pakistan had recorded 58 deaths among approximately 150,000 pilgrims so far. He mentioned, “Considering the number of people and the weather, this seems like a natural occurrence.” Indonesia reported 183 deaths this year, a decrease from 313 deaths reported last year.
Those who died while making their pilgrimage to Mecca are likely to have their funerals conducted locally rather than being repatriated to their home countries. Two diplomats informed media outlets that Saudi authorities have begun the funeral procedures for the deceased pilgrims, washing the bodies and wrapping them in white cloth.
One diplomat said, “Saudi authorities are conducting the funerals. They have their own system, so we follow that.” Another diplomat, considering the number of deaths, expressed the view that it would be impossible to notify many families in advance. This was especially true for Egypt, where there have been many deaths.
The timing of the Hajj moves back approximately 11 days each year based on the Gregorian calendar. Therefore, there is a possibility that next year it could be held in early June when temperatures are lower.
Hajj, where large crowds gather annually, has historically been prone to major disasters. The most recent disaster occurred in 2015 during the Stoning of the Devil ritual when a stampede resulted in approximately 2,300 deaths.