Over 900 pilgrims died from heatwave during the five days activities for the 2024 Hajj.
This is according to Agence France-Presse (AFP) which said 600 of the casualties were Egyptians.
It further put the figure at 922, saying many of the scorching heat victims are old and infirm, who took part in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage, held this year during the oven-like Saudi summer.
Quoting it, “Relatives scoured hospitals and pleaded online for news, fearing the worst after temperatures hit 51.8°C in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, on Monday.
“Facebook and other social media networks have been flooded with pictures of the missing and requests for information.”
It said in addition to Egypt, fatalities have also been confirmed by Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, though in many cases authorities have not specified the cause.
