Saudi officials reported on Sunday that more than 1,300 individuals died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to extreme heat at Islamic holy sites in the Arabian peninsula.
Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, the Saudi Health Minister, disclosed that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who endured arduous journeys in high temperatures to participate in Hajj rituals in and around the holy city of Mecca.
The minister stated that 95 pilgrims were currently receiving medical treatment in hospitals, with some airlifted to Riyadh for further care. He noted delays in the identification process due to many deceased pilgrims lacking proper identification documents.
The minister also mentioned that the deceased individuals were buried in Mecca, without providing a specific breakdown.
According to Cairo officials, the reported deaths included more than 660 Egyptians, with all but 31 being unauthorized pilgrims.
Egyptian authorities have revoked licenses for 16 travel agencies that facilitated the travel of unauthorized pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
