Hajj turns deadly as temperatures soar to 125°F, over 1,000 pilgrims die

The annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, known as the Hajj, has been marred by an unprecedented tragedy this year, with the death toll surpassing 1,000 individuals.

The scorching temperatures, reaching a peak of 125.2 degrees Fahrenheit (51.8 degrees Celsius) in Mecca, have been cited as a significant contributing factor.

The official death toll has yet to be confirmed by Saudi authorities. However, reports from various countries suggest a total of 1,081 deaths.

Egypt alone has reported over 650 deaths. On June 20, it was noted that 58 Egyptians were among the newly reported deaths.

Other countries have also reported deaths among their pilgrims. Pakistan has recorded 58 deaths out of approximately 150,000 pilgrims, while Indonesia’s death toll has risen to 183 out of 240,000 pilgrims.

Vulnerability of unregistered pilgrims

This year’s Hajj, which coincided with the peak of the Saudi Arabian summer, presented unique challenges due to the sweltering temperatures.

Notably, more than half of the victims were unregistered pilgrims who participated in the Hajj without official permits.

The extreme heat at the Grand Mosque in Mecca has been particularly dangerous for unregistered pilgrims, as they lack access to the air-conditioned spaces provided for those with official permits.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Complex in Mecca has become a sad gathering point for grieving families. Hundreds have arrived to identify the bodies of their loved ones, or to desperately seek information about those who are missing.

Saudi authorities have also reportedly begun the burial process for some of the deceased.

This devastating event adds to a history of tragedies that have marred the pilgrimage.

History of Hajj tragedies

In 2015, a crowd crush during the “Rami al-Jamarat” ritual in Mina resulted in over 2,400 deaths, making it one of the deadliest disasters in the history of mass gatherings.

In 1990, a ventilation failure in the Al-Ma’aisem pedestrian tunnel led to the suffocation of 1,426 pilgrims. Other incidents in 1994 and 1998 resulted in hundreds of additional deaths.

Over 9,000 people have died in mass religious gatherings over the past half-century, with over 5,000 of these occurring during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Last year’s Hajj also saw a significant number of deaths, mostly among Indonesian pilgrims.

Climate change and Hajj concerns

While crowd crushes and stampedes have historically been the primary cause of Hajj fatalities, extreme climate conditions are emerging as a new threat. This year, temperatures in Saudi Arabia soared to 50°C during the pilgrimage.

While Saudi authorities have not released official figures on the death toll, they have reported more than 2,700 cases of heat exhaustion since Sunday.

Saudi Arabia is warming at an alarming rate, with more frequent and severe heatwaves. This rising temperature, coupled with higher humidity, makes conditions increasingly dangerous without artificial cooling.

Moreover, the Hajj pilgrimage presents unique challenges due to the sheer number of pilgrims converging in a confined area. Overcrowding increases the risk of crowd crushes and exertion. The advanced age of many pilgrims makes them more susceptible to heatstroke and other health complications.

The timing of the Hajj shifts approximately 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar. This means that the pilgrimage is expected to take place in June next year.

However, concerns loom over the long-term consequences of climate change on the Hajj, with a 2019 study forewarning of increasingly dangerous heat stress levels for pilgrims in the years to come.