Hajj 2024: Saudi Arabia says death toll during pilgrimage has gone over 1,300

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) said on Sunday (June 23) that more than 1,300 pilgrims died during this year's Hajj which took placeamid intense heat. A report by the Saudi Press Agency said that the number of fatalitiesreached 1,301, with 83 per cent of them being unauthorised to perform Hajjand having walked long distances under direct sunlight, without adequate shelter or comfort.

The victims were from10 countries stretching from the United States to Indonesia. Temperatures in Meccaclimbed as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius this year. Saudi officials told the news agency AFP that1.8 million pilgrims took part this year, a similar number to last year and that 1.6 million came from abroad.

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Riyadh says this year's Hajj was 'successful'

Saudi Arabia's Health MinisterFahd Al-Jalajel on Sundaydescribed the management of the Hajj as "successful".Health Minister Al-Jalajel said that the health system"provided more than 465,000 specialised treatment services, including 141,000 services to those who didn't obtain official authorisation to performHajj."

"The health system addressed numerous cases of heat stress this year, with some individuals still under care.Among the deceased were several elderly and chronically ill individuals," he added.

The health minister pointed outthat deaths were caused by pilgrims "walking long distances under direct sunlight without adequate shelter or comfort." However, he did not specifyhow many deaths were attributed to the intense heat.

'400Kunregistered pilgrims took part'

Meanwhile, a Saudi official told AFP that around400,000 unregistered pilgrims took part in Hajj this time, and"almost all of them (were) from one nationality", an apparent reference to Egypt.

This remark came as Egyptian Prime MinisterMostafa Madbouly ordered 16 tourism companies to be stripped of their licences and referred their managers to the public prosecutor over illegal pilgrimages to Mecca.

It said the rise in the number of deaths of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims stemmed from some companies which "organised the Hajjprogrammes using a personal visit visa, which prevents its holders from entering Mecca" via official channels.

(With inputs from agencies)