Extreme high temperatures during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia resulted in the death of more than 1,000 people, with the majority coming from Egypt. The Egyptian government has revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies for helping unauthorized pilgrims reach the holy sites. While the Saudi government has not commented on the deaths, authorities have cracked down on unauthorized pilgrims and referred officials from the companies responsible for facilitating their travel to the public prosecutor for investigations.
The searing heat in Saudi Arabia has caused death tolls to reach over 1,000 during the hajj, the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca. Out of the 1.8 million people who made the journey, 1.6 million were from foreign countries. The heat wave, with temperatures rising up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit, was cited as the primary reason for the fatalities. Despite these challenges, Saudi Arabia has worked to provide advanced cooling systems for all pilgrims on the hajj. However, the lunar calendar has placed the event during the hottest time of the year, leading to concerns about climate change and the safety of pilgrims, especially the elderly and those with health issues.
A total of 658 Egyptians have been reported to have passed away during this year's hajj pilgrimage, with 58 of those deaths occurring on Thursday due to extreme heat. The Saudi summer heat reached a record high of 51.8C (125F), leading to the deaths of over 1,000 pilgrims from 10 different countries. Many of the victims were unregistered pilgrims who could not afford official permits, making them more vulnerable to the intense weather conditions. The Egyptian government has sent officials to hospitals to assist their citizens and address the rising number of deaths.