The brand new deaths convey the overall reported up to now by a number of nations to 577, in keeping with an AFP tally.
Jerusalem:
Diplomats on Tuesday mentioned at the least 550 pilgrims died through the hajj, underscoring the gruelling nature of the pilgrimage which once more unfolded in scorching temperatures this 12 months.
At the least 323 of those that died had been Egyptians, most of them succumbing to heat-related diseases, two Arab diplomats coordinating their nations’ responses informed AFP.
“All of them (the Egyptians) died due to warmth” apart from one who sustained deadly accidents throughout a minor crowd crush, one of many diplomats mentioned, including the overall determine got here from the hospital morgue within the Al-Muaisem neighbourhood of Mecca.
At the least 60 Jordanians additionally died, the diplomats mentioned, up from an official tally of 41 given earlier on Tuesday by Amman.
The brand new deaths convey the overall reported up to now by a number of nations to 577, in keeping with an AFP tally.
The diplomats mentioned the overall on the morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of many greatest in Mecca, was 550.
The hajj is among the 5 pillars of Islam and all Muslims with the means should full it at the least as soon as.
The pilgrimage is more and more affected by local weather change, in keeping with a Saudi research printed final month that mentioned temperatures within the space the place rituals are carried out had been rising 0.4 levels Celsius (0.72 levels Fahrenheit) every decade.
Temperatures hit 51.8 levels Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) on the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, the Saudi nationwide meteorology centre mentioned.
Warmth stress
Earlier on Tuesday, Egypt’s overseas ministry mentioned Cairo was collaborating with Saudi authorities on search operations for Egyptians who had gone lacking through the hajj.
Whereas a ministry assertion mentioned “a sure variety of deaths” had occurred, it didn’t specify whether or not Egyptians had been amongst them.
Saudi authorities have reported treating greater than 2,000 pilgrims affected by warmth stress however haven’t up to date that determine since Sunday and haven’t offered data on fatalities.
At the least 240 pilgrims had been reported lifeless by numerous nations final 12 months, most of them Indonesians.
AFP journalists in Mina, outdoors Mecca, on Monday noticed pilgrims pouring bottles of water over their heads as volunteers handed out chilly drinks and fast-melting chocolate ice cream to assist them preserve cool.
Saudi officers had suggested pilgrims to make use of umbrellas, drink loads of water and keep away from publicity to the solar through the hottest hours of the day.
However lots of the hajj rituals, together with the prayers on Mount Arafat which befell on Saturday, contain being open air for hours within the daytime.
Some pilgrims described seeing immobile our bodies on the roadside and ambulance providers that appeared overwhelmed at occasions.
Round 1.8 million pilgrims took half within the hajj this 12 months, 1.6 million of them from overseas, in keeping with Saudi authorities.
Unregistered pilgrims
Annually tens of 1000’s of pilgrims try to carry out the hajj by irregular channels as they can not afford the usually pricey procedures for official hajj visas.
This locations these off-the-books pilgrims in danger as they can not entry air-conditioned amenities offered by Saudi authorities alongside the hajj route.
One of many diplomats who spoke to AFP on Tuesday mentioned that the Egyptian demise toll was “completely” boosted by a lot of unregistered Egyptian pilgrims.
“Irregular pilgrims induced nice chaos within the Egyptian pilgrims’ camps, inflicting the collapse of providers,” mentioned an Egyptian official supervising the nation’s hajj mission.
“The pilgrims went with out meals, water, or air-con for a very long time.”
They died “from the warmth as a result of most individuals had no place” to take shelter.
Earlier this month, Saudi officers mentioned that they had cleared tons of of 1000’s of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca forward of the hajj.
Different nations to report deaths through the hajj this 12 months embrace Indonesia, Iran and Senegal.
Most nations haven’t specified what number of deaths had been heat-related.
Saudi Well being Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman Al-Jalajel mentioned on Tuesday that well being plans for the hajj had “been efficiently carried out”, stopping main outbreaks of illness and different public well being threats, the official Saudi Press Company reported.
Well being officers “offered digital consultations to over 5,800 pilgrims, primarily for heat-related diseases, enabling immediate intervention and mitigating the potential for a surge in circumstances,” SPA mentioned.
(Aside from the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)
