(Rightallegiance.com) – Tragedy struck the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca as scorching temperatures led to the deaths of around 600 Egyptian pilgrims, according to a security source. The fatalities were part of a larger toll of at least 1,000 deaths reported from this year’s hajj pilgrimage due to extreme heat, with temperatures soaring above 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
The pilgrimage, a deeply significant event in Islam, draws millions of worshippers to Saudi Arabia each year. This year, over 1.8 million pilgrims were expected to participate, with many facing perilous conditions exacerbated by the intense heat.
Most of the reported deaths occurred among unregistered pilgrims who lacked permits for access to air-conditioned tents and bus transfers between holy sites, amenities provided to authorized worshippers. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi swiftly responded by ordering the formation of a crisis unit led by the prime minister to investigate the deaths.
Officially registered pilgrims from Egypt numbered 50,752, with 28 reported deaths, though authorities struggled to provide medical care to unregistered individuals due to lack of information. Coordination efforts between Egyptian and Saudi authorities were initiated to ascertain the exact number of casualties and facilitate the repatriation of bodies.
“The situation is critical,” stated the Egyptian cabinet in a press release, highlighting the challenges in identifying and providing support to unregistered pilgrims. The government vowed to investigate and penalize travel companies that facilitated unauthorized pilgrimages.
Reports of the deaths reverberated globally, with other countries also confirming fatalities among their pilgrims. Indonesia reported 183 deaths, Jordan 68, Tunisia 35, and India 68, while Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, and Senegal also reported casualties.
The scale of the tragedy underscored the logistical and safety challenges of managing one of the world’s largest religious gatherings. Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, mandates that Muslims capable of doing so undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.
Videos circulated on social media depicted the grim aftermath, with bodies strewn near the Grand Mosque in Mecca, evoking shock and grief among the global Muslim community.
As investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the deaths, the incident has sparked discussions about the need for enhanced safety measures and better oversight to prevent future tragedies during the hajj pilgrimage.