Deadly heatwave in Saudi Arabia kills 577 pilgrims during Hajj 2024

Amid the scorching weather, pilgrims used umbrellas for shade, while the Saudi government urged people to stay hydrated and avoid being outdoors during the peak heat hours.

This year’s Hajj commenced on Friday, and was followed by Eid ul-Adha, the key Islamic festivals. It has been learnt that 550 people lost their lives due to scorching heat in Kingdom. Among these, 323 were Egyptians, most of whom succumbed to heat-related illnesses.

On the second day of the stoning ritual in Mina, Saudi Arabia, Muslim pilgrims continued their journey despite the extreme temperatures.

Despite the big number of casualties, authorities had not observed any unusual deaths among the pilgrims. The ministry treated hundreds of pilgrims for heat-related illnesses at that point.