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2024 Hajj extreme heat disaster

Coordinates: 21°24′58″N 39°46′56″E / 21.4160946°N 39.7820978°E / 21.4160946; 39.7820978
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2024 Hajj extreme heat disaster
Map
Map
Date14–19 June 2024
LocationMecca, Saudi Arabia
CauseExtreme heat
Participants1.8 million
OutcomeFatalities among pilgrims from multiple countries
DeathsAt least 1,301
Non-fatal injuriesAt least 2,764 (on 16 June alone)
Hottest temperature reported in Mecca: 51.8 °C (125.2 °F)

Between 14 and 19 June 2024, at least 1,301 people on the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca died due to extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 50 °C (122 °F).[1][2] Extreme heat caused heat stroke and dehydration, leading to the deaths. The hottest recorded temperature reported in the Grand Mosque of Mecca was 51.8 °C (125.2 °F).[3] At least 2,764 cases of heat-related illness, like heat stroke, were reported on 16 June alone.[4]

Background

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Hajj is a pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, made by 2–3 million Muslims per year.[5] The 2024 Hajj ran from the evening of 14 June through 19 June[6] and had 1.8 million pilgrims.[1]

Casualties

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The health minister of Saudi Arabia said at least 1,301 died during the pilgrimage.[2][7] Of the dead, at least 600 were Egyptian pilgrims. Jordanian diplomats stated that 60 Jordanians also died from extreme heat.[8] Tunisia's foreign ministry reported that at least 35 Tunisian pilgrims died during "a sharp rise in temperatures". Indonesia reported 132 Indonesian deaths, at least three of which were confirmed to be due to heat stroke. Thirteen pilgrims from the Kurdistan Region in Iraq were reported dead of reported heatstroke.[9] Five female pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir succumbed to heat stroke on Mount Arafat and in Muzdalifah.[10] Other pilgrims from Iran and Senegal were also among the dead.[11][12] Saudi authorities said there were over 2,700 instances of heat exhaustion.[13]

An Arab diplomat said most Egyptian pilgrims died from heat-triggered health problems such as high blood pressure.[14] Two Arab diplomats said a large number of pilgrims performed the Hajj without registration because they could not afford the official procedures, and it could have exacerbated the number of Egyptian casualties and injuries in general caused by extreme heat. Reasons for this included them not being able to access air-conditioned facilities or official food or water stations, leading to prolonged periods of dehydration, exposure to, and susceptibility to the extreme heat. One said the massive influx of unregistered pilgrims had likely overwhelmed the facilities in place, causing disorder in how food, water, and medical services were distributed.[3] One person was killed in a crowd crush, but it was unspecified if this was related to the heat.[8]

A witness to the disaster saw pilgrims lying still along the roadside and said ambulances "didn't know which way to turn".[15]

Deaths by country
Nationality Deaths Ref
 Algeria 22 [16]
 Australia 1 [17]
 Bangladesh 35 [18]
 Egypt 672 [19]
 France 2 [20]
 Guinea 4 [21]
 India 98 [22]
 Indonesia[a] 234 [23][24]
 Iran 22 [25]
 Iraq 19 [26]
 Jordan 99 [27]
 Libya 10 [28][29][30][31]
 Malaysia[b] 14 [32]
 Morocco[b] 20 [33]
 Netherlands 1 [34]
 Nigeria 15[c] [35]
 Pakistan 58 [36]
 Philippines 1 [37]
 Russia[d] 5 [38][39]
 Senegal 3 [40]
 Somalia 6 [41]
 Syria 5 [42]
 Tajikistan 3 [43]
 Tunisia 62 [44][45]
 Turkey 23 [46]
 United States 11 [47][48]

Aftermath

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Tunisian president Kais Saied fired Ibrahim Chaibi, the minister of religious affairs, after 49 citizens died during the Hajj,[49] a number which later increases to 62.[50]

Egyptian prime minister Mostafa Madbouly ordered the revocation of 16 travel agents' licenses and referred their managers to the public prosecutor's office for involvement in illegal facilitation of travel to Mecca.[51]

On July 11, 2024, Indonesian Islamic scholar Yazid bin Abdul Qadir Jawas died at the age of 62 in his native country. It was reported that his health worsened after he attended the Hajj, presumably due to the heat.[52]

Pakistani rescue worker Asif Bashir was hailed as a hero for his role in saving the lives of 16 Indian and British nationals during the 2024 Hajj extreme heat disaster.[53] His story was extensively covered by international media, earning him the title 'Angel of Mina.'"[54]

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Some Indonesian citizens were confirmed killed by heat. Hundreds more died of chronic conditions and heat was described as "a contributing factor".
  2. ^ a b It is reported that the majority died of chronic conditions. It is not confirmed if heat had influenced their deaths.
  3. ^ A total of 15 Nigerians died during the Hajj. One committed suicide, so is not included there. Only one was confirmed to be directly killed by heat. The cause of death of the others is unknown.
  4. ^ The five Russian deaths occurred "due to natural causes related to health and age". It is not known if heat had a role.

References

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  1. ^ a b France-Presse, Agence. "More than 550 hajj pilgrims die in Mecca as temperatures exceed 50C | Hajj | The Guardian". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Saudi health minister says 1,301 people died during Hajj". Al Arabiya. 23 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b "At least 550 hajj pilgrims die in scorching temperatures". ABC News. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  4. ^ "Saudi Arabia: Over 2,700 cases of heat exhaustion, sunstroke recorded during Haj – Alwast News". enews.alwast.net. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  5. ^ Saalim Al-Azhari, Sheikh, ed. (27 June 2024). "What is Hajj?". Islamic Relief. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  6. ^ "Hundreds died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia amid intense heat, officials say". Voice of America. 18 June 2024. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  7. ^ Kalin, Stephen; Said, Summer; al-Batati, Saleh; Farouk, Menna (21 June 2024). "Scorching Heat Ravages Hajj as More Than 1,170 Pilgrims Die". The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  8. ^ a b "More than 300 Egyptians die from heat during Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, diplomats say". CBS News. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  9. ^ "Jordan, Tunisia Report Additional Hajj Heat Deaths". www.barrons.com. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  10. ^ "Five Kashmiri Women Die Of Heat Stroke During Hajj". Kashmir Observer. 18 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Jordan, Tunisia report additional hajj heat deaths". The New Arab. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  12. ^ "68 Hajj pilgrims from India dead amid high summer heat in Mecca: Diplomat". 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  13. ^ "More than 1,000 people die at hajj pilgrimage 2024 amid extreme heat in Saudi Arabia, AFP reports". Agence-France Presse. CBS News. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  14. ^ "Death toll tops 1,000 after hajj marked by extreme heat: AFP tally". Agence-France Presse. France 24. 20 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  15. ^ "Hajj pilgrimage ends amid deadly Saudi heat spike". France 24. 17 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  16. ^ الحدث الساخن (20 June 2024). "وفاة 22 حاج جزائري في مكة المكرمة من بين الالاف الحجاج المتوفين...اسماء الوفيات شاهدو الفيديو". YouTube. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Australian dies while undertaking Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, DFAT confirms". News.com.au. 21 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  18. ^ "35 Bangladeshi pilgrims die during Hajj : Report". SomoyNewsTv. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  19. ^ "Egyptian Hajj death toll rises to 672 amid intense heat". The JAPAN Times. 24 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  20. ^ à 16h47, Par Le Parisien Le 21 juin 2024 (21 June 2024). "Pèlerins décédés pendant le hajj : deux Français figurent parmi les victimes en Arabie saoudite". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 23 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ Mediaguinee (21 June 2024). "Pèlerins décédés pendant le hajj 2024 : 4 Guinéens parmi les victimes !". Mediaguinee.com (in French). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  22. ^ "What's behind deaths at this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia?". BBC News. 21 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  23. ^ Pikiran Rakyat (21 June 2024). "1.081 Jemaah Haji 2024 Meninggal Dunia, dari Indonesia Capai Angka 213 Jiwa". YouTube. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  24. ^ Jamil, Fasfah S. (24 June 2024). "[Update Haji 2024] Jemaah Haji Indonesia yang Wafat di Tanah Suci Capai 234 Orang". Mengabarkan Kebaikan (in Indonesian). Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  25. ^ "۲۲ زائر ایرانی در عربستان جان باختند/ارائه بیش از یک میلیون خدمت به حجاج". ایرنا (in Persian). 26 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  26. ^ Over 1,000 pilgrims die during Hajj; 19 are from Kurdistan Region Kurdistan 24 (K24) 20 June 2024
  27. ^ "Number of Jordanians who die of heat exhaustion during Hajj reaches 99". The Jordan TImes. 24 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  28. ^ "Libyan Pilgrim Death Toll Rises to 6". libyareview. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 18 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  29. ^ "البعثة الليبية: وفاة 8 حجاج و5 حالات في العناية المركزة". Archived from the original on 21 June 2024.
  30. ^ "وفاة حاج ليبي داخل مستشفى الملك عبدالله في السعودية".
  31. ^ "الهيئة العامة لشؤون الحج والعمرة تعلن وفاة ( 10 ) من الحجاج الليبيين ". lana.gov.ly (in Arabic). 25 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 August 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
  32. ^ "Six Malaysians pilgrims died after wukuf". Sinar Daily. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  33. ^ "Latest Update: More than 900 pilgrims die in heat wave, including 17 Moroccans; search for missing persons underway". Iran International. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  34. ^ "Nederlander omgekomen bij jaarlijkse bedevaart naar Mekka" [Dutchwoman died during annual pilgrimage to Mecca]. NOS (in Dutch). 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  35. ^ Adewale, Murtala (20 June 2024). "2024 Hajj: 15 Nigerian pilgrims die, 17 suffer heatstroke in Saudi Arabia". Guardian Nigeria News. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  36. ^ "Hajj pilgrim deaths surge past 1,000 as Saudi Arabia faces extreme temperatures". Independent. 20 June 2024. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  37. ^ "Filipina hajj pilgrim among over 1,000 dead from heat stroke". Manila Standard. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  38. ^ "Four Russian pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia during Hajj". TASS. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  39. ^ "Over 1,000 pilgrims die during Hajj in Saudi Arabia — news agency". TASS. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 20 June 2024.
  40. ^ "A Deadly Toll as an Intense Heat Grips Saudi Arabia". The New York Times. 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 19 June 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2024.
  41. ^ "Somali Government Announces Six Pilgrims Died During Hajj Amid Extreme Heat". Mustaqbal Media. 19 June 2024.
  42. ^ "سوريا تعلن وفاة 5 من مواطنيها ضمن حجاج هذا العام". 21 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  43. ^ "Three citizens of Tajikistan die during Hajj in Saudi Arabia". akipress.com. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Death toll of Tunisian pilgrims in Mecca rises to 60-Xinhua". english.news.cn. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  45. ^ "ارتفاع عدد وفيات الحجاج التونسيين إلى 62.. وتواصل البحث عن 10 مفقودين - Radio Express FM" (in Arabic). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  46. ^ "Mekke'de aşırı sıcaklarda 1000'i aşkın hacı adayı hayatını kaybetti". Euronews (in Turkish). 19 June 2024. Archived from the original on 20 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.
  47. ^ Fortin, Jacey; Selig, Kate (26 June 2024). "At Least 11 Americans Among Those Dead in Hajj Pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  48. ^ "Maryland couple 'walked for hours' before dying in Hajj heat". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  49. ^ "Tunisia sacks religious affairs minister amid Hajj casualties". Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 21 June 2024.
  50. ^ "ارتفاع عدد وفيات الحجاج التونسيين إلى 62.. وتواصل البحث عن 10 مفقودين - Radio Express FM" (in Arabic). 27 June 2024. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  51. ^ "Egypt to prosecute travel agents for 'fraudulent' hajj trips". The Guardian. 22 June 2024. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  52. ^ "Ustadz Yazid bin Abdul Qadir Jawas Meninggal Dunia, Dimakamkan di Bogor" (in Indonesian). 11 July 2024.
  53. ^ "'Hajj Hero': Meet Pakistani who saved lives of over dozen pilgrims, mostly Indians". 11 August 2024.
  54. ^ "آصف بشیر: وہ پاکستانی رضاکار جس نے دوران حج 16 انڈین حجاج کی جان بچائی". 4 August 2024.