Saudi Arabia announces more than 1,300 deaths from heatwave during Hajj

Saudi Arabia reported on Sunday that the attack killed more than 1,300 people. Pilgrimage to Mecca Due to the extreme heat, it was noted that most of the deaths did not have official permits.

“Unfortunately, Death toll: 1,301 83% do not have authorization to perform Hajj and walk long distances, directly exposed to the sun, without adequate conditions,” the Saudi official body said.

Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam Every Muslim who has the necessary means must do this at least once in his life.

Last few years, Islamic lunar calendar The ceremony coincides with Saudi Arabia’s scorching summer, with temperatures in Mecca reaching 51.8 degrees Celsius this year.

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As of Sunday, Saudi authorities had not made any public comment on the reported death toll, nor released their own death toll.

An AFP tally last week based on official statements and reports from diplomats put the death toll at more than 1,100.

A senior Saudi official told AFP on Friday that authorities They have confirmed 577 deaths in the past two days. The biggest event of the Hajj is on June 15, when pilgrims gather for hours of prayer on Mount Arafat, and on June 16, when they take part in the stoning of a stone tablet representing Satan in Mina.

But the source warned that the figure was partial and did not cover the entire Hajj, which ended on Wednesday.

This year, the pilgrimage attracted 1.8 million devotees. Of these, 1.6 million came from other countries, according to Saudi authorities.

Saudi Arabia issues visas based on a quota system per country, which is then drawn up in a lottery among the Egyptian faithful.

Beneficiaries must use accredited travel agencies, which are often expensive.

That’s why many believers try to avoid official tours, even though they risk arrest and deportation if spotted.