Introduction
Over 1,300 people lost their lives while performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia this year, according to reports released by Saudi authorities on Sunday, June 23. The pilgrims also experienced intense temperatures while visiting the country's Islamic monuments.
Death Toll and Heat Challenges
Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel reported that 83 percent of the 1,301 fatalities were unapproved pilgrims who had journeyed great distances in sweltering heat to reach Mecca. The Hajj events are held in and around the city.
Key Points:
- 95 pilgrims were treated in hospitals.
- Some were flown to Riyadh for further treatment.
- Many pilgrims lacked identification documents, delaying the identification process.
Impact on Egyptian Pilgrims
Authorities stated that over 660 Egyptians were among the dead. Only thirty-one of them were permitted pilgrims, according to two Cairo officials. In response, Egypt revoked the licenses of 15 travel agencies that facilitated unauthorized pilgrimages to Saudi Arabia.
Most of the deceased were registered at the emergency center in Mecca's Al-Muaisem community. This year, Egypt sent over 50,000 approved pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
Crackdown on Unauthorized Pilgrims
Saudi authorities have expelled tens of thousands of unauthorized pilgrims, but many, mostly Egyptians, managed to reach Mecca and the surrounding Hajj sites, some on foot. Unauthorized pilgrims lack the hotel accommodations available to approved pilgrims, leaving them vulnerable to the heat.
The Egyptian government announced that 16 travel agencies failed to provide adequate Hajj services and illegally helped pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia using visas that did not permit travel to Mecca. Company officials have been referred to the public prosecutor for investigation.
Violations by Travel Agencies
The state-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported that some travel agencies and Hajj tour operators sold Saudi tourist visas to potential pilgrims from Egypt, violating Saudi rules requiring exclusive Hajj visas. These agencies left pilgrims with nowhere to go in the sweltering heat of Mecca.
International Impact
According to the Associated Press, the deceased also included:
- 165 Indonesian pilgrims
- 98 Indian pilgrims
- Dozens from Jordan, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, and Malaysia
- Two U.S. citizens
Many countries, including Jordan and Tunisia, attributed the deaths to extreme heat. Associated Press reporters observed pilgrims collapsing from the heat, particularly on the second and third days of the Hajj. Some pilgrims vomited and fell to the ground.
Historical Context of Hajj Tragedies
Hajj has often seen fatalities due to the large number of participants, with over two million people traveling to the kingdom during the five-day pilgrimage. Past incidents include deadly stampedes and epidemics.
This year's death toll is particularly high. In 2015, a stampede in Mina killed over 2,400 pilgrims, making it the deadliest Hajj incident. Saudi Arabia has never acknowledged the total number of stampede deaths. A separate crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca that year killed 111 people.
The 1990 stampede, which resulted in the deaths of 1,426 people, was the second-deadliest Hajj event.
Extreme Heat and Climate Change
The Saudi National Meteorological Center reported daily temperatures in and around Mecca during this year's Hajj ranged from 46 degrees Celsius to 49 degrees Celsius. Some pilgrims fell unconscious while trying to stone demons symbolically.
Hajj's Significance and Future
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and one of the largest religious gatherings in the world. The Saudi Hajj Department reported that over 1.83 million Muslims performed Hajj this year, including more than 1.6 million from 22 countries and 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents.
The kingdom has invested billions of dollars in crowd control and security measures for Hajj attendees, but the sheer number of participants makes it challenging to ensure their safety.
Implications of Climate Change
The risks associated with Hajj may rise as a result of climate change. According to MIT research from 2019, the Hajj will still take place in temperatures above the "extreme danger threshold" between 2047 and 2052 and again between 2079 and 2086, even if the world reduces the worst effects of climate change.
Islam follows the lunar calendar, so the Hajj begins approximately 11 days earlier each year. By 2049, Hajj will take place in April, and a few years later, during the milder winter months.
(This article is based on an Associated Press report.)
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