Saudi Arabia confirms 1,301 deaths during Hajj, 8 Ghanaians involved
This year’s pilgrimage was marked by extreme heat, with temperatures reaching an extraordinary 50C (122F) at times.
Tragically, the Ghana Hajj board confirmed last week that six Ghanaian nationals lost their lives in Mecca as a result of the scorching heatwave engulfing Saudi Arabia. This brings the total number of Ghanaian deaths during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to eight.
The pilgrims, who were seeking solace in Madinah as part of their sacred journey, bravely faced sweltering temperatures surpassing 41 degrees Celsius.
Over three-quarters of the deceased individuals were reported to not possess official permits to be in the area and were observed walking under the blazing sun without proper shelter, as stated by the official Saudi news agency SPA.
Amongst those who perished were individuals who were elderly or suffering from chronic illnesses, the agency added.
Witnesses at the Hajj reported a shortage of medical professionals available to aid pilgrims in coping with the intense heat, as the death toll continued to climb.
The death toll for Ghanaian pilgrims rose at the Hajj due to the scorching heat wave that engulfed Saudi Arabia.
In Saudi Arabia, the number of Hajj pilgrims who have tragically lost their lives has surpassed 1,000 amidst the searing heat.
Tragically, over 550 Hajj pilgrims lost their lives in Mecca as temperatures soared above 50°C.
Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel emphasized the initiatives taken to educate pilgrims about the risks of heat stress and ways to prevent it.
He further disclosed that health facilities administered care to close to half a million pilgrims, with some still hospitalized due to heat exhaustion.
“May Allah grant forgiveness and mercy to those who have passed. Our deepest sympathies and prayers are with their bereaved families,” he expressed solemnly.
Saudi Arabia has faced criticism for not taking sufficient steps to ensure the safety of the Hajj, particularly for unregistered pilgrims who lack access to essential facilities like air-conditioned tents and official Hajj transportation.
The scorching temperatures in Mecca soared to a staggering 51.8°C, as reported by the Saudi Arabian national meteorological center.
While nations worldwide have been diligently reporting the casualties among their citizens, Saudi Arabia remained notably silent on the matter, with no official statements or tolls being released until this past Sunday.
According to the AFP news agency, an Arab diplomat revealed that 658 Egyptians had tragically lost their lives in the disaster. Indonesia reported over 200 of its citizens perishing, and India stated that 98 of its people had tragically passed away.
Pakistan, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Sudan, and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region have all confirmed fatalities in the tragic incident.
The Hajj is an annual pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims to the sacred city of Mecca, a religious duty that all financially and physically capable Muslims must fulfill at least once in their lifetime.
This year, approximately 1.8 million individuals participated in the pilgrimage, as reported by Saudi Arabia.
The repercussions of the escalating death toll are becoming increasingly evident.
Over the weekend, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly took decisive action by revoking the licenses of 16 tourism companies and referring their managers to prosecutors due to their involvement in facilitating illegal pilgrimages to Mecca.
In a similar move, Jordan announced on Friday that it had taken into custody numerous travel agents who were responsible for organizing unofficial pilgrimages to Mecca. Additionally, Tunisian President Kais Saied made the bold decision to dismiss the minister of religious affairs from their position.
