Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 07:05am on 19 Jun 2024,Wednesday Weather & Environment
Over 550 Hajj pilgrims have died in Mecca due to intense heat, with temperatures nearing 52 degrees Celsius. Most deaths were caused by heat-related illnesses. Among the dead were 323 Egyptians and 60 Jordanians. Saudi authorities treated over 2,000 for heat stress. This year's Hajj saw around 1.8 million pilgrims. Many pilgrims tried to perform Hajj without official permits, lacking access to air-conditioned shelters. The extreme heat underscores the growing impact of climate change on the pilgrimage. Saudi health officials reported successful disease control but struggled with the overwhelming heat-related health issues.
