The official death toll from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage has risen to around 500, but the true toll could be more than double that, with reports indicating that up to 600 Egyptian worshippers died on the way to Mecca in terrible heat.
At least 14 Malaysians, 165 Indonesians, 75 Jordanians, 35 Pakistanis, 49 Tunisians, 11 Iranians, and 98 Indians have died, according to officials in each nation. Another 27 Jordanians have been hospitalized, while about 14 are still missing, according to the Jordanian Foreign Ministry.
The US State Department stated that many US citizens perished on the Hajj trip but did not disclose a specific number. “We can confirm the deaths of several US Americans in Saudi Arabia. “We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families on their loss,” said a State Department official, adding that the government is ready to provide consular support.
Nearly 500 Confirmed Fatalities From Hajj Heatwave As Hundreds More Feared Dead
Dozens more Iranians have also been hospitalized for heatstroke and other ailments, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.
According to CNN, the current official death toll from this year’s trip is at least 480.
The death toll is expected to grow significantly further, as Saudi Arabia and Egypt have yet to reveal official data. Furthermore, governments only know about pilgrims who have registered and traveled to Mecca as part of their country’s quota; further deaths are expected among unregistered pilgrims.
This year’s pilgrims endured dangerously high temperatures of up to 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
According to the Egyptian president, the crisis unit, led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, will “provide support for families of the deceased.”
According to the statement, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has also directed the unit to “speedy coordination with Saudi Arabian authorities to facilitate the return of the bodies” of those who died.
According to a statement issued by the Egyptian cabinet on Thursday, the official death toll is 28. However, Reuters news agency and other agencies have reported that up to 500 to 600 Egyptians died on the route.
Egyptian officials said they were striving to compile an exact list of victims and missing persons. The disparity originates from the many unregistered pilgrims who are not considered among those who have registered and traveled to Mecca as part of their country’s quota.
Thousands more were treated for heatstroke as an estimated 1.8 million Muslims braved the sweltering weather.
According to The Associated Press, the Saudi Ministry of Health implemented safety measures such as cooling stations along the official route and encouraged pilgrims to use umbrellas and stay hydrated. Despite this, this year’s celebration was marred by tragedy, raising concerns about whether more could have been done to secure people’s safety.
Nearly 500 Confirmed Fatalities From Hajj Heatwave As Hundreds More Feared Dead
It also emphasizes the dangers posed to the many unregistered worshippers who wish to accomplish their religious duty but do not have Hajj permission and do not have access to official facilities.
At least 68 Jordanians who died of heatstroke while conducting Hajj rituals have been granted burial permission to be laid to rest in Mecca at the request of their families, according to Sufian Qudah, Head of the Jordanian Directorate of Operations and Consular Affairs.
Dr. Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Malaysia’s Minister for Religious Affairs, stated that the majority of pilgrims died from “heart disease, pneumonia, and blood infection,” according to the state-run Bernama News Agency. The Bernama article did not clarify whether the deceased were part of the country’s official Hajj delegation.
On Friday, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs revealed the deaths of the 98 Indian nationals, saying: “These deaths have happened on account of natural illness, natural causes, chronic illness, and also old age.”
Nearly 500 Confirmed Fatalities From Hajj Heatwave As Hundreds More Feared Dead
On Saturday, the day when Muslims congregate at Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Mohammed is reputed to have delivered his final sermon, six Indian people perished from high heat, while another four died from “accidents,” according to the spokesperson.
In the aftermath of the fatalities, Tunisia’s President Kais Saied fired the country’s minister of religious affairs. Before his dismissal, Ibrahim Chaibi admitted the possibility of negligence in the care of pilgrims. “The negligence could have occurred. It will be present, and we will review it at the ministry level; whomever fails will face consequences,” Chaibi said on Friday.
SOURCE – (CNN)
