Tragedy at Hajj 2024: Death Toll Surpasses 900 Amid Scorching Heat

Friends and family members continue their desperate search for missing Hajj pilgrims as the death toll during this year’s pilgrimage has surged past 900. The annual rituals, carried out in extreme heat, have turned into a nightmare for many, with temperatures in the holy city of Makkah soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) on Monday.

Approximately 1.8 million people from around the globe, many of them elderly and frail, participated in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage, held this year during the intense Saudi summer. The brutal heat has proven deadly, particularly for those unable to access air-conditioned facilities.

An Arab diplomat reported that the death toll among Egyptian pilgrims alone has reached “at least 600,” up from over 300 the previous day, mainly due to the severe heat.

This brings the total confirmed deaths to 922, based on figures released by various countries.

Mabrouka bint Salem Shushana, a Tunisian in her early 70s, has been missing since Saturday, according to her husband Mohammed. Without an official Hajj permit, she lacked access to cooling facilities. “She’s an old lady. She was tired. She was feeling so hot, and she had no place to sleep,” he said. “I looked for her in all the hospitals. Until now I don’t have a clue.”

Social media platforms are flooded with posts from relatives seeking information on their missing loved ones. Among those missing is Ghada Mahmoud Ahmed Dawood, an Egyptian pilgrim. “I received a call from her daughter in Egypt begging me to put any post on Facebook that can help track her or find her,” said a family friend in Saudi Arabia, who wished to remain anonymous.

Fatalities have been confirmed by several countries including Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, and Iraq’s Kurdistan region. However, many authorities have not specified the exact causes of death. A second Arab diplomat noted that Jordanian officials were searching for 20 missing pilgrims, although 80 others initially reported missing were located in hospitals.

An Asian diplomat reported “around 68 dead” from India, attributing some deaths to natural causes and others to the extreme weather. Saudi authorities have not released official fatality figures but reported over 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone.

Each year, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform Hajj through unofficial channels, unable to afford the costly official permits. This trend has increased since 2019 when Saudi Arabia introduced a general tourism visa, making it easier for unregistered pilgrims to attend.

Umer Karim, a Saudi politics expert at the University of Birmingham, explained, “For these tourist visa guys, it’s like being on the migrant route without any idea of what to expect.”

Among the missing is Houria Ahmad Abdallah Sharif, a 70-year-old Egyptian pilgrim with an official permit. She disappeared after telling a friend she was going to clean her abaya in a public bathroom on Mount Arafat. “We’ve searched for her from door to door and we have not found her until now,” said her friend.

The 2024 Hajj has highlighted the severe challenges posed by extreme weather, particularly for vulnerable and unregistered pilgrims. As families and friends continue their search, the death toll and the number of missing persons underscore the urgent need for better safety measures and support for all pilgrims. The tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the impacts of climate change and the importance of preparedness in safeguarding those undertaking this significant religious journey