At least 600 Egyptians have tragically died during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, amid soaring temperatures, according to a security source.
In response, Egyptian authorities have established a crisis unit to investigate the fatalities.
These Egyptian deaths contribute to over 1,000 fatalities reported from various countries participating in this year’s pilgrimage, as temperatures soared beyond 51 degrees Celsius (123.8 degrees Fahrenheit).
The majority of deaths occurred among unregistered pilgrims who lacked permits that would have provided access to air-conditioned tents and bus transfers between holy sites, amenities reserved for authorized worshippers.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has mandated that a crisis unit, led by the Prime Minister, investigate the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims.
While Egypt has yet to confirm the total number of fatalities, the cabinet reported that out of 50,752 officially registered pilgrims, 28 have died.
Authorities indicated that delivering medical care to unregistered worshippers proved challenging due to insufficient information.
Egypt is coordinating with Saudi authorities to compile an accurate list of the dead and missing and to arrange for the transfer of bodies.
The cabinet stated that companies facilitating travel for unauthorized pilgrims would be investigated and penalized.
Egyptian officials are visiting hospitals to gather information about Egyptian pilgrims receiving treatment or those who have passed away.
The cabinet highlighted the difficulties posed by large numbers of unregistered Egyptian citizens, necessitating increased efforts and extended time to locate missing persons and inform their families.
Videos on social media have shown bodies of pilgrims scattered around the Grand Mosque in Mecca. Other countries have also confirmed fatalities, with Indonesia reporting 183 deaths, Jordan 68, Tunisia 35, and India 68. Additional deaths have been reported by Malaysia, Pakistan, Iran, and Senegal.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires Muslims who can afford it and are physically able to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. As one of the largest annual religious gatherings globally, over 1.8 million pilgrims were expected to participate in this year’s Hajj, according to Saudi authorities.
