The number of people who died during the Hajj in Mecca exceeded 1.3 thousand people

The number of pilgrims who died in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj in Mecca exceeded 1.3 thousand people, mostly unregistered pilgrims. This was announced on Sunday, June 23, by Health Minister Fahd bin Abdel Rahman al-Jalajel.

“The number of deaths during the Hajj is 1,301 people among the dead pilgrims, 83% did not have the appropriate visa,” said the minister.

He noted that the corresponding visa gives the pilgrim access to air-conditioned facilities arranged by the Saudi authorities along the Hajj route.

The minister noted that in most cases, death occurred due to dehydration and physical exhaustion amid the intense heat. The temperature in Mecca these days reached plus 47 degrees.

Saudi Arabia requires every pilgrim to purchase one of the 1.8 million available licenses to gain legal access to Mecca. These licenses can cost several thousand dollars. Unlicensed pilgrims usually do not travel in organized air-conditioned tour buses and do not have ready access to water and food.

Hajj is a Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. All Muslims who can do so must perform Hajj at least once in their lifetime. In 2024, approximately 1.83 million pilgrims performed the Hajj, of which 1.6 million were foreigners.

At least 240 people died during the hajj last year. 10 thousand pilgrims faced heat illness.

It was earlier reported that more than 1,000 people died in the heat during the pilgrimage (Hajj) in Mecca.

Saudi Arabia did not allow more than 300 thousand pilgrims to enter Mecca. About 154,000 foreigners came to Mecca as tourists rather than the visas required for the Hajj.