More than 550 hajj pilgrims have tragically died in Mecca as temperatures exceed 50C. At least 320 of the dead are from Egypt and Saudi officials report treating more than 2,000 people for heat stress amid the annual hajj pilgrimage in the Middle East.
At least 550 pilgrims have died during the hajj, and least 323 of those who died were Egyptians, most of them succumbing to heat-related illnesses, the two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries’ responses told AFP this week.
“All of them [the Egyptians] died because of heat” except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, one of the diplomats said. At least 60 Jordanians have died, it has also been confirmed bringing the death toll to around 577.
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Temperatures hit a staggering 52C the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, the Saudi national meteorology centre said. The Saudi health minister, Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel, said on Tuesday that health plans for the hajj had “been successfully carried out”.
The country has “prevented major outbreaks of disease and other public health threats,” the official Saudi Press Agency reported. A virtual hospital “provided virtual consultations to over 5,800 pilgrims, primarily for heat-related illnesses, enabling prompt intervention and mitigating the potential for a surge in cases”, SPA said.
The Foreign Office warned: “Contagious diseases spread quickly, particularly during Hajj and Ramadan. Flu, colds and respiratory problems are common. Prepare for extreme heat. During the summer months, the temperature may exceed 50°C. Consume adequate liquids and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.”
It added: “You must have a valid certificate of vaccination against the ACWY strains of meningitis 10 days before arriving for Hajj and Umrah. For more information on health risks and vaccination requirements, read the TravelHealthPro Hajj and Umrah guide. Check the health page for advice on bringing medicines into Saudi Arabia. Make sure you have enough medication for your entire trip, and for if your return is delayed.”