Saudi Arabia says at least 1,300 pilgrims died in Mecca heatwave

June 23, 2024 – Saudi Arabia says at least 1,300 people died during the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca in scorching heat, adding that most of the dead did not have official permits.

“Regrettably, the death toll reached 1,301, of which 83 percent were people who had no right to perform the Hajj and who travelled long distances in direct sunlight without adequate shelter or comfort,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

An AFP count based on official statements from diplomats last week put the death toll at more than 1,100. Arab diplomats told AFP that Egyptians were responsible for 658 deaths, 630 of whom were unregistered pilgrims.

As of Sunday, Riyadh had not commented publicly on the deaths, nor provided its own toll. However, on Friday, a senior Saudi official gave a figure of 577 deaths on the two busiest days of the Hajj: on June 15, pilgrims gathered for hours under the blazing sun on Mount Arafat to pray; on June 15, pilgrims gathered for hours under the blazing sun on Mount Arafat to pray; on June 16, they participated in the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd Jajar on Sunday described the management of this year’s Hajj as “successful,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He said attempts had been made to raise public awareness of the dangers of the heat, adding: “May Allah forgive and have mercy on the deceased. Our deepest condolences go to their families.”

Saudi officials said 1.8 million pilgrims took part in the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam and required of every Muslim with the resources at least once in their lifetime, similar to last year, with 1.6 million of them coming from abroad.

In past years, major outdoor ceremonies have been curtailed amid the sweltering Saudi summer, which this year saw temperatures in Mecca climb to 51.8°C (125.2°F).

Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly on Saturday ordered the revocation of the licenses of 16 travel companies and handed their managers over to prosecutors on charges of illegal pilgrimages to Mecca, the cabinet said.

He said the increase in deaths of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims was due to some companies “organizing Hajj programs using individual visit visas, which prevents their holders from entering Mecca through official channels.”

Hajj permits are allocated to countries through a quota system and to individuals through a lottery.

Even for those who can obtain permits, high costs have prompted many to attempt the Hajj without one, despite the risk of arrest and deportation if caught.