Saudi Arabia announced that the death toll of Hajj pilgrims has risen to 1,301, with a significant majority—83%—of the deceased not having official permits to participate in the pilgrimage. The Saudi Press Agency reported that many of these pilgrims endured long distances under direct sunlight without adequate shelter or comfort, contributing to their deaths.
The deceased pilgrims represented over 10 countries, including the United States and Indonesia, and some governments are still updating their figures. According to Arab diplomats, Egyptians accounted for 658 deaths, with 630 of them being unregistered pilgrims.
Heat-related causes were cited as the primary reason for most deaths, exacerbated by extreme temperatures in Makkah reaching as high as 51.8°C, according to Saudi Arabia’s national meteorological center.
Previously, a Saudi official had reported 577 deaths during the busiest days of Hajj, June 15 and June 16, which included rituals like prayers on Mount Arafat and the stoning of the devil in Mina. The official defended the government’s response, attributing the deaths to misjudgments by individuals who underestimated the risks.
In response to the situation, Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al Jalajel described the management of this year’s Hajj as “successful.” He highlighted that the health system provided over 465,000 specialized treatment services, including 141,000 services to pilgrims without official authorization, according to SPA.
Saudi officials noted that 1.8 million pilgrims participated in this year’s Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from abroad—a number similar to the previous year despite the challenges posed by the pandemic and extreme weather conditions.