6 Hajj Pilgrims Die of Heat as Mecca Temperature Soars to 118 Degrees

Hajj is one of five pillars in Islam and a requirement for Muslims

TOPSHOT-SAUDI-RELIGION-ISLAM-EID
Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha morning prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca, on the first day of the holiday marking the end of the hajj pilgrimage. AFP via Getty Images

Six people have already died from heatstroke during the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca as temperatures soared to 118 degrees Fahrenheit.

Reports of the six deaths came on Saturday when pilgrims gathered atop Mount Arafat for the main event of the pilgrimage.

The country anticipates extreme heat throughout the five-day Hajj this year.

All six of the deceased are Jordanian citizens, the Jordan Foreign Ministry confirmed on Saturday.

The niece of one of the deceased told CNN Arabic that her aunt had died on Mount Arafat and was buried in Saudi Arabia.

Jordan previously said there were over 4,000 pilgrims in its official delegation this year.

The foreign ministry, however, clarified that the six who died were not part of the "official delegation," and did not have valid Hajj licenses to perform the pilgrimage.

More than 1.8 million people are participating in Hajj this year, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.

Saudi officials are urging pilgrims to carry umbrellas and stay hydrated amid the harsh conditions, stated Muhammad Al-Abdulaali, spokesman for the Ministry of Health.

The Saudi army has deployed more than 1,600 personnel, with medical units focused on treating heatstroke, along with 30 rapid response teams.

In addition, 5,000 health and first aid volunteers are also participating.

Performing Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and requires every Muslim, who is physically and financially able, to make the journey to the holy city of Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

It's one of the largest religious gatherings globally and the largest annual event in Saudi Arabia, occurring two months and 10 days after Ramadan ends, during the Islamic month of Dhul-Hijjah.

Due to the shorter lunar Islamic calendar, the timing of Hajj on the Gregorian calendar varies slightly each year.

Over the past decade, Saudi Arabia has invested billions of dollars to enhance transportation, technology, and accommodation for Hajj pilgrims, which is a crucial source of income for the world's largest oil producer.

Tags
Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Muslims, Pilgrimage, Islam
Real Time Analytics