At least 550 people have died during the pilgrimage to Mecca, due to high weather temperatures. A reported 323 victims were Egyptian, most of whom suffered from heat-related illnesses.
"All Egyptian nationals died from the heat, except for one who suffered fatal injuries during a small crowd clash," an Arab diplomat told AFP, noting that this figure came from the hospital's morgue in Al-Muaisem area in With who.
Diplomats said at least 60 people from Jordan have died. Another 240 pilgrims are from different countries, most from Indonesia. The total number of deaths in Mecca has reached 550, according to the morgue of the hospital in question. Yesterday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo, Egypt reported that it was cooperating with the authorities of Saudi Arabia to be informed about the search operations for the Egyptians who disappeared during the pilgrimage. In one of the statements of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it is stated that 2,000 Egyptians are receiving treatment in the hospital.
Pilgrimage is one of the traditions that is most affected by temperatures. According to a study in Saudi Arabia, published last month, temperatures in the area where the ritual was performed were rising by 0.4 degrees Celsius every decade.
According to AFP reporters, pilgrims were seen throwing bottles of water on their heads on Monday, while volunteers handed out cold drinks and ice cream to help them stay cool during their journey. Saudi Arabian officials advised pilgrims to use umbrellas, stay hydrated and avoid being in the sun at the peak of the heat.
Some pilgrims said they saw bodies lying motionless on the side of the road and that in some cases, ambulance services were overwhelmed.
1.8 million pilgrims participated in this year's pilgrimage, 1.6 million of them from different countries of the world. For the current situation, a virtual hospital has also been activated, which provides consultations for over 5,800 pilgrims who have been affected by diseases or conditions related to high temperatures. Through virtual support, doctors help people to intervene quickly and prevent cases from escalating.
