A Filipino woman from Riyadh was among the casualties of the recent Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, where temperatures soared to critical levels, resulting in over 1,000 deaths. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) confirmed the incident, highlighting the severe conditions pilgrims faced during one of Islam’s largest religious gatherings.
“So far, only one female Riyadh-based Filipino pilgrim died of natural causes (heatstroke) in Makkah,” DFA Undersecretary Eduardo de Vega stated, noting that the deceased was buried on Wednesday.
This year’s pilgrimage saw around 5,100 Filipino participants. In response to the crisis, the DFA has dispatched a team to assist the Philippine Embassy in Saudi Arabia with the ongoing needs of Filipino pilgrims.
Reports indicate that the death toll for this year’s Hajj has reached 922, with many succumbing to sunstroke amid temperatures that peaked at 51.8 degrees Celsius in Mecca on Monday.
The Hajj, a vital religious duty for Muslims, involves various rituals including walking around the Kaaba in Mecca’s Grand Mosque. This year’s pilgrimage occurred from June 14 to 19, drawing thousands from around the globe, despite the harsh weather conditions.
