Extreme Heatwave Claims Lives Of 14 Haj Pilgrims, 17 Missing

At least 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died due to an “extreme heat wave” while participating in the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Jordan’s foreign ministry announced on Sunday that 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died and 17 others are missing during the Haj pilgrimage. The ministry reported that the deceased individuals had suffered strokes due to the extreme heat wave.

The ministry stated that it has been coordinating with Saudi authorities to either bury the deceased in Saudi Arabia or transfer them to Jordan. Iran also reported that five Iranian pilgrims lost their lives during the Haj pilgrimage, but did not specify the cause of their deaths.

Saudi Arabia has not yet released any official statement regarding the fatalities. However, Saudi Health Ministry spokesperson Mohammed Al-Abdulaali informed reporters that over 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat waves on Sunday.

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He also mentioned that the number of affected pilgrims was expected to rise and urged them to avoid going out during peak hours (between 11 am and 3 pm) and to stay hydrated. “Heat stress is the greatest challenge,” he was quoted

The temperature in Mecca is predicted to reach 47 degrees Celsius on Monday, according to reports.

The Haj pilgrimage will conclude on Wednesday. It is one of the largest mass gatherings worldwide, with over 1.8 million pilgrims expected to participate this year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

During last year’s Haj, at least 240 people, many from Indonesia, died, with various countries reporting the figures without specifying the causes of death. Over 2,000 people experienced heat stress during the event.

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