The intense heatwave affecting Saudi Arabia has taken a devastating toll on Jordanian pilgrims, with at least 14 of them succumbing to the extreme temperatures while performing the hajj rituals. According to Jordan’s foreign ministry, 17 others are still unaccounted for, and the nationals who lost their lives suffered from sun stroke due to the intense heatwave. The ministry has coordinated with Saudi authorities to bury the deceased in Saudi Arabia or repatriate their bodies to Jordan.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent chief, Pir Hossein Kolivand, reported that five Iranian pilgrims have lost their lives so far in Mecca and Medina during the hajj this year, although he did not specify the cause of death. Saudi Arabia has not released any official figures on fatalities, but the country’s health ministry has been busy tending to the thousands of pilgrims who have fallen ill due to the heat.
In a worrying development, more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress on Sunday alone, according to Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, a spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry. The heat reached a scorching 47C (116.6F) in Mecca on Sunday, and temperatures were forecast to continue to soar on Monday.
The hajj, which will conclude on Wednesday, is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, with over 1.8 million Muslim pilgrims expected to participate this year. Despite its magnitude, the pilgrimage is fraught with challenges, particularly for the elderly who are forced to endure the blistering heat for hours on end.
Saudi Arabia’s HajjMany of the rituals are performed outdoors on foot, making it a daunting task for even the fittest individuals. Temperatures have consistently pushed past 40C during the pilgrimage, causing immense suffering for the pilgrims. In an effort to mitigate the heat-related issues, the Saudi health ministry has implemented measures such as climate-controlled areas, water distribution, and advice on sun protection.
Last year’s hajj was marred by heat-related deaths, with at least 240 people losing their lives, many of whom were from Indonesia. More than 2,000 people suffered from heat stress during the festival, and over 10,000 heat-related illnesses were recorded, with 10% of them classified as heatstroke.
The Saudi health ministry has issued an advisory warning of the soaring temperatures and advising pilgrims to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours of the day. It remains to be seen what measures can be taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims in the face of such extreme temperatures.