The dying toll from the Hajj has exceeded 1,000 with many of the fatalities ensuing as a result of intense heatwave, a report in AFP has mentioned.
1,081 deaths have been reported amongst nationals from 10 international locations who got here to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.
The brand new toll included 58 from Egypt elevating the fatality to 658 from the North African nation, the report mentioned.
In the meantime, hundreds of individuals are being handled for heatstroke as temperatures have soared to 49 levels Celsius in Mecca. 90 deaths have been reported of Indian nationals, a report in India Right this moment has mentioned.
Earlier this week, the toll was over 550, which included 68 Indians. In the meantime, Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Pakistan and Tunisia have additionally reported pilgrim deaths. 35 casualties from Pakistan has additionally been reported.
Saudi Arabia has not formally supplied info on fatalities, although it reported greater than 2,700 circumstances of “warmth exhaustion” on Sunday alone. Final 12 months, there have been greater than 200 deaths throughout Hajj.
Saudi state TV mentioned temperatures on Monday rose as excessive as 51.8 levels Celsius on the Grand Mosque in Makkah.
Whereas deaths amongst pilgrims should not unusual, this 12 months’s gathering is being held amid notably excessive temperatures.
Haj season adjustments yearly based on the Islamic calendar, and this 12 months, it fell in June, one of many hottest months within the kingdom. On Monday, Saudi Arabia suggested pilgrims in opposition to performing the “stoning of the satan” ritual between sure hours on account of excessive temperatures.