550 Pilgrims died during Hajj, says Diplomats

Akintayo Adams

5 months ago

At least 550 pilgrims died during the hajj, Diplomats have revealed.

This, according to them, highlights the gruelling nature of the pilgrimage coupled with increase in temperature in the region.

A member of the Saudi security forces prevents people from approaching as a man effected by the scorching heat lies on the ground during the arrival of Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Mecca, on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)

323 of those who died were said to be Egyptians, most of them succumbing to heat-related illnesses, AFP reported the Diplomats as saying.

“All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat” except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, one of the diplomats said, adding the total figure came from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighbourhood of Mecca.

Medics tend to a man as muslim pilgrims make their way towards Saudi Arabia’s Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the climax of the Hajj pilgrimage on June 15, 2024. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

It was claimed that 60 Jordanians also died, much more than the official tally of 41 given earlier on Tuesday by Amman.

AFP reports that the total recorded so far by multiple countries is 577.

However, the total at the morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of the biggest in Mecca, was 550, according to the Diplomats.

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Credit – AFP