More than 1,300 pilgrims lost their lives during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, primarily due to extreme temperatures, according to Saudi health officials. Fahd bin Abdurrahman Al-Jalajel, the Saudi Health Minister, revealed that the majority of those who died were unauthorized pilgrims who had traveled on foot to the holy sites around Mecca.
The minister, speaking on Al Ekhbariya TV, noted that many of the deceased lacked identification, complicating efforts to process and bury the bodies in Mecca. He also mentioned that ongoing medical care was required for 95 pilgrims, some of whom had to be airlifted to Riyadh for treatment.
The incident has drawn significant attention to the risks faced by unauthorized pilgrims, including a lack of access to suitable accommodations to cope with the heat. In response to the crisis, Egyptian authorities have shut down 16 travel agencies accused of facilitating illegal pilgrimages.
