Saudi Arabia, the scorching warmth in Mecca causes 19 deaths amongst pilgrims –

No less than 14 Jordanian and 5 Iranian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia throughout the annual hajj pilgrimage, which is going down in scorching warmth. The annual hajj pilgrimage, one of many 5 pillars of Islam, started on Friday in Mecca with the participation of greater than 1.8 million devoted, most of them from overseas. This yr it takes place in the course of summer season, in one of many hottest areas on this planet, with temperatures anticipated to succeed in 46 levels at present.

Saudi authorities haven’t offered particulars on the variety of instances of hyperthermia seen amongst pilgrims, however greater than 10,000 have been recorded final yr, together with 10% heatstroke, probably the most critical case. “Fourteen Jordanian pilgrims died and one other 17 disappeared whereas performing the hajj rituals,” introduced the Jordanian Overseas Ministry, in line with a press release revealed by the official Petra information company. The 14 pilgrims died “following affected by warmth stroke”, she added. “The ministry is following with the related Saudi authorities the procedures for burying the pilgrims and transporting the our bodies of these whose households want them to be transferred to the dominion,” she mentioned, including that the seek for the 17 lacking pilgrims continues.

The top of the Iranian Pink Crescent, Pirhossein Koolivand, mentioned that “5 Iranian pilgrims misplaced their lives (…) in Mecca and Medina throughout this yr’s hajj”, with out instantly specifying the circumstances of their deaths.