Mecca, Saudi Arabia, June 19, 15:35
A severe heat wave that gripped the holy city of Mecca during the annual Haj pilgrimage has claimed the lives of at least 577 people so far, according to reports from multiple countries compiled by AFP.
Quoting Arab diplomats coordinating responses, thehindu.com reported that at least 323 of the deceased were Egyptians who succumbed primarily to heat-related illnesses like heatstroke. “All of them died because of heat except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush,” a diplomat said, citing records from the main morgue in Mecca’s Al-Muaisem neighborhood which has reported 550 bodies.
Jordan has revised its toll upwards to 60 casualties, while other nations like Indonesia, Iran and Senegal have also reported fatalities without specifying if they were heat-related. The intense temperatures, which peaked at 51.8°C (125°F) at the Grand Mosque on Monday according to Saudi meteorology officials, have exposed a harsh reality – the Haj is becoming increasingly vulnerable to climate change. A recent Saudi study warned that temperatures in areas where rituals are performed are rising by 0.4°C every decade. Despite advisories to use umbrellas, stay hydrated and avoid midday sun, many pilgrims had to spend hours outdoors performing rituals like prayers on Mount Arafat amid the searing heat on Saturday. “We saw motionless bodies on the roadside and overwhelmed ambulance services at times,” recounted one pilgrim. Around 1.8 million people, including 1.6 million from abroad, took part in this year’s Haj. However, Saudi authorities had cleared out hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca before the event, as they cannot access air-conditioned facilities.
An Egyptian official admitted “irregular pilgrims caused great chaos, leading to a collapse of services” at their camps where many perished from the extreme heat with no shelter. While Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel maintained health plans were “successfully carried out” with over 5,800 heat cases treated virtually, the tragic toll highlights how global warming is posing unprecedented challenges for one of Islam’s most sacred events.
Inputs taken from the Thehindu.com and other sources
