According to a report from Africa News, more than 500 people have died from heat-related illnesses during the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in extreme temperatures, it was reported on Wednesday.
Saudi Arabian state television reported that temperatures rose to 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Islam’s holiest city on Monday.
Medics and officials, who wished to remain anonymous, said they believed the death toll could be as high as 600.
Saudi Arabia has not released an official death toll, and the cause of death on circulating lists is not given, but families said many of them fell victim to the extreme heat.
Most Hajj rituals take place outdoors and considerable distances have to be travelled between sites.
To manage the intense heat during the five-day pilgrimage, which began on Friday, Saudi authorities have put in place various safety measures, including misting towers, cooling stations, medical tents and drinking stations.
Officials advised pilgrims to use umbrellas and stay hydrated, stay out of the sun during the day and take rest breaks between rituals to avoid fatigue from the heat.
But despite all the precautions, the death toll from the heat is expected to rise. On Wednesday, hundreds of people continued to search for missing relatives in Saudi hospitals.
Last year, more than 8,400 pilgrims were treated for heat exhaustion or heat stroke, with almost half of them hospitalised.
All Muslims are obliged to make the Hajj once in their lifetime if they are physically and financially able to do so.
According to the Saudi hajj authorities, more than 1.83 million Muslims performed the hajj in 2024, including more than 1.6 million pilgrims from 22 countries.
Saudi Arabia has spent billions of dollars on crowd control and security measures for participants in the annual five-day pilgrimage, but the sheer number of participants makes it difficult to ensure their safety.
On Sunday alone more than 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat exhaustion, euro news reports.