Hajj 2024: Due to the intense heatwave, temperatures have mounted to around 49 degrees Celsius in Mecca.
According to AFP, the mortality toll from the Hajj trip in Saudi Arabia has risen to approximately 1000 as a result of excessive heat. According to sources, approximately 90 Indians were among the 1000 deaths. Hundreds of pilgrims died from dehydration and sunstroke. According to the Saudi government, nearly 1.8 million people will perform the Hajj pilgrimage this year. Due to the extreme heatwave, temperatures in Mecca have reached nearly 49 degrees Celsius. Thousands of people are being treated for heatstroke around the country.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims come to do the Hajj. Approximately 658 pilgrims from Egypt died. In the midst of an extreme heat wave, Hajj officials have advised pilgrims to bring umbrellas and remain hydrated. Several pilgrims are also reported to be missing. Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and safety precautions for those making the annual five-day pilgrimage, but the sheer number of people makes assuring their safety difficult. The mosque at Mecca houses the cube-shaped Kaaba, which Muslims pray to five times a day, as well as the Prophet’s Mosque in the nearby city of Medina.
Rising Temperatures during Hajj
A Saudi study in the Journal of Travel and Medicine noted a gradual increase in temperatures in Hajj ritual areas by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade, indicating the impact of climate change. With temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius on Monday, Egypt’s foreign ministry confirmed cooperation with Saudi authorities to search for missing Egyptians but did not specify casualty numbers.
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