Dozens of individuals have died amid scorching temperatures in the course of the annual hajj pilgrimage to the holy metropolis of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, in accordance with studies from official media in Europe, the Center East and Africa.
With forecasts saying that temperatures would high 113 levels Fahrenheit, or 45 levels Celsius, on Tuesday, Saudi officers issued advisories to pilgrims urging them to remain hydrated, reduce out of doors actions, and carry umbrellas to dam direct daylight.
Whereas Saudi Arabia had not reported deaths, information studies from a variety of international locations whose devoted went to the hajj advised that the warmth had confirmed lethal.
On Sunday, Jordan’s official information agency mentioned that 14 pilgrims had died from publicity to excessive solar and warmth. On Wednesday, the company mentioned that burial permits had been issued for 41 Jordanian pilgrims in Mecca, however didn’t present particulars on the causes of loss of life.
Tunisia’s International Ministry mentioned not less than 35 Tunisians had died, the state-run Agence Tunis Afrique Presse reported on Tuesday, noting the “sharp rise in temperatures” and “scorching solar” that had accompanied the hajj.
At the very least 13 folks from India’s Kerala State died performing hajj, in accordance with Sathyapalan C., an area official, whereas the Russian state information company TASS reported the deaths of 4 residents from “pure causes associated to well being and age.” Three pilgrims from Senegal additionally died, in accordance with a press release from the nation’s International Ministry, with out citing a reason behind loss of life.
And Egypt’s International Ministry mentioned consular workers in Saudi Arabia have been working “across the clock” to assist facilitate burials and searches for lacking Egyptian pilgrims, with out giving an quantity. Egypt’s Ministry of Immigration has arrange a 24-hour “operations room” amid quite a few misery calls about lacking family members, the State Info Service mentioned in a press release. It added that officers have been visiting hospitals and medical facilities in Saudi Arabia to seek for any lacking pilgrims and to help with repatriating the useless.
Saudi ministries didn’t instantly reply to questions concerning the studies of deaths.
Muslims journey to Mecca from world wide annually to carry out the five-day pilgrimage, which ends Wednesday. The hajj is likely one of the 5 pillars of Islam — and all Muslims who’re financially and bodily in a position should carry out the ritual not less than as soon as of their lives.
The first hajj came about in 632. The pilgrimage is now one of many world’s largest Muslim gatherings. Through the years, it been tormented by a variety of calamities, from stampedes to fires to outbreaks of illness. A stampede on a bridge in 2006 killed greater than 300 folks and one other in 2015 killed greater than 2,200 folks.
Many pilgrims, who are sometimes older, have additionally skilled warmth stress in latest years, with scores dying from the warmth. The Saudi authorities had taken measures to cut back the danger of warmth stress, together with establishing hydration stations and utilizing water mist sprays to chill the air.
On Tuesday, Saudi officers billed this yr’s hajj season a “success,” with state media reporting that the well being minister, Fahd al-Jalajel expressing “explicit satisfaction with the actual fact that there have been no outbreaks or different public well being threats regardless of the numerous variety of pilgrims and the challenges posed by excessive temperatures.”
The authorities additionally cited “superior cooling programs” and the “constant availability” of water for pilgrims for making certain a “easy and safe hajj for all.”
Hwaida Saad and Pragati Ok.B. contributed reporting.
