Over 1000 haj pilgrims die in extreme heat in Mecca

By Linda Bordoni

Egypt formed a crisis unit to investigate the deaths of Egyptians taking part in the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca during extreme heat, after medical and security sources said at least 600 Egyptian pilgrims had died on the route to Mecca since the start of the pilgrimage one week ago.

In recent days hundreds of worshippers from different countries have reportedly died in punishing conditions in the Saudi Arabian city, where temperatures have at times exceeded 51 degrees Celsius.

They include citizens from Malaysia, Indonesia, Jordan, Pakistan, Tunisia and Iran.

The death tolls are expected to rise much further, as Saudi Arabia and Egypt have yet to release official figures. Additionally, the governments are only aware of pilgrims who have registered and travelled to Mecca as part of their country’s quota – more deaths are feared among unregistered pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia authorities say they sent away unregistered pilgrims who would not have been able to access tents.

A Muslim pilgrim prays at dawn on Mount Arafat

Egypt, meanwhile, is coordinating with Saudi counterparts to arrange for the transfer of bodies and pledged to investigate and penalize companies that had facilitated travel for unregistered pilgrims.

Witness said that during the pilgrimage thousands of pilgrims had lain on the streets, exposed to the sun, on the climb to Mount Arafat, one of the integral rituals of the journey.

The bodies of dead pilgrims were later covered with Ihram cloth - a simple garb worn by pilgrims - until medical vehicles arrived, the witness said.

The fifth pillar of Islam, the haj is mandatory once in a lifetime for every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it and is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity. This year's pilgrimage, which began last Friday, is expected to draw nearly 2 million pilgrims.

(Source: Reuters and other news agencies)