At least 600 Egyptians have died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca due to extreme heat, prompting an investigation by Egyptian authorities. Over 1,000 fatalities have been reported globally from this year’s Hajj.
Bollywood Fever: Around 600 Egyptians have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca amid extreme heat, a security source reported, as authorities established a crisis unit on Thursday to investigate the fatalities.
These Egyptian deaths are part of at least 1,000 fatalities reported from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage from various countries, caused by temperatures soaring past 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit). Most of the deaths occurred among unregistered pilgrims who lacked permits for access to air-conditioned tents and bus transfers between holy sites, amenities provided to authorized worshippers.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has directed a crisis unit, led by the prime minister, to probe the deaths of the country’s pilgrims. Although Egypt has not confirmed the total number of fatalities, the cabinet noted that 28 of the 50,752 officially registered pilgrims have died. Authorities indicated that providing medical care for unregistered worshippers was challenging due to insufficient information.
Egypt is coordinating with Saudi authorities to accurately account for the deceased and missing and to arrange the transfer of bodies, the cabinet said in a statement. Companies that facilitated travel for unauthorized pilgrims will face investigation and penalties.
Egyptian officials are visiting hospitals to gather information about Egyptian pilgrims receiving treatment or those who have died. “There are large numbers of Egyptian citizens who are not registered in Hajj databases, which requires double the effort and a longer time to search for missing people and find their relatives,” the cabinet stated.
Videos posted on social media recently showed bodies of pilgrims scattered around the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Other countries have also reported fatalities: Indonesia confirmed at least 183 deaths, Jordan 68, Tunisia 35, and India 68. Additional deaths were reported by Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, and Senegal.
Hajj, one of the main pillars of Islam, requires Muslims who can afford it and are physically able to participate at least once in their lifetime. It is one of the largest annual religious gatherings globally, with over 1.8 million pilgrims expected to participate this year, according to Saudi authorities.
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