ENTRE News – Six Hajj pilgrims died while carrying out the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, due to extreme heat reaching 48 degrees Celsius. The six congregants are Jordanian citizens. The Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is currently coordinating with the Saudi authorities in Jeddah regarding burial procedures and the possibility of returning the body back to Jordan.
The nephew of one of the Jordanian pilgrims who died said his aunt died on Mount Arafat and will likely be buried in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi General Authority for Statistics said more than 1.8 million people performed the Hajj this year.
This year, temperatures in Saudi Arabia are expected to experience extreme heat during the five days of the Hajj pilgrimage, with temperatures reaching 48 degrees Celsius in Mecca. Saudi Health Ministry spokesman Muhammad Al-Abdulaali has appealed to pilgrims to bring umbrellas and stay hydrated amid the hot temperatures.
Apart from that, the Saudi army has also deployed more than 1,600 personnel with special medical units to anticipate health problems due to heatstroke, as well as 5,000 volunteers for first aid. Previously, the Jordanian government said that more than 4,000 of its citizens were taking part in the Hajj this year FOR4D.
However, the Jordanian Foreign Ministry clarified that the six people who died were not part of the “official delegation”. This means they may not have legal permission to perform the Hajj.