Cairo, June 23 (EFE).- Saudi Arabia recognized on Sunday the death of more than 1,300 pilgrims during the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, primarily due to the heatwave that raised temperatures to nearly 52 °C.
The Saudi Ministry of Health reported in a statement that 1,301 people died during the Hajj rites due to heat stress. 83% of the deceased were not authorized to perform the pilgrimage.
The vast majority of these pilgrims traveled «irregularly» and did not participate with the official delegations from their respective countries.
The deceased «walked long distances under the sun, without shelter or comfort, and among them were several elderly people and those with chronic illnesses,» the statement detailed, highlighting «the dangers of exposure to heat stress.»
The Ministry pointed out that they contacted the families of the deceased after identifying them, a complex task that required time «since many of the deceased did not carry any identification.»
«The necessary procedures have been carried out to identify them, bury them, and honor them in Mecca, and their death certificates have been issued,» it added.
Health and security sources in Egypt indicated on Sunday to EFE that the number of Egyptian nationals who have died has risen to at least 672.
However, the government has confirmed the death of at least 31 pilgrims traveling with the official mission and acknowledged that a «large number» traveled without being registered.
Indonesia is the second most affected country with around 200 deaths among pilgrims, followed by India, which has registered 98 deaths, and Jordan, with 75 deaths, all due to «extreme heat.»
Most of the countries that have reported casualties during the pilgrimage do not specify the causes of death.
The countries have an official mission where participants have permits and visas issued exclusively by Saudi Arabia for the ritual, but due to the high cost of this trip, averaging 5,000 dollars per person, many opt for other routes that Saudi Arabia considers illegal.
These pilgrims, who traveled unofficially, such as on tourist visas, did not have access to air-conditioned facilities and tents during the pilgrimage, so their only shelter from the extreme heat was the streets of Islam’s holiest city. EFE
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