Amman: Fourteen Jordanians have tragically passed away during the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, with some succumbing to heat stroke, while 17 others remain missing, as per a statement from the Jordanian foreign ministry released on Sunday.
At least six of the fatalities were attributed to heat-related causes, the ministry disclosed on Saturday, noting that temperatures in Mecca were expected to soar to 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) by Monday.
The ministry did not specify on Sunday whether the increased death toll was also linked to the extreme heat. The hajj, set to conclude on Wednesday, draws over 1.8 million pilgrims annually, making it one of the world’s largest mass gatherings, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.
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Tragedies including stampedes, tent fires, and heat-related incidents have resulted in numerous deaths over the past three decades of the pilgrimage. The Saudi health ministry issued a precautionary advisory on Thursday, urging pilgrims to remain hydrated and avoid outdoor activities during the peak sun hours between 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) and 3 p.m.
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The Jordanian foreign ministry stated on Sunday that it was collaborating with Saudi authorities to facilitate the burial or transportation of the deceased in accordance with their families’ wishes.
In a tragic incident in 2015 near Mecca, a deadly crush during the hajj claimed the lives of at least 2,070 people, according to a Reuters tally at the time.
