Riyadh: More than 1,000 people died in Hajj amid scorching heat

Cairo/Riyadh: More than 1,000 people died during this year’s hajj, according to a Reuters tally, as the annual pilgrimage to Mecca reached a record high Muslim Pilgrimage Nearly two million people who attended the event were hit by extreme heat. Most of those who died were Egyptian citizens. Security and medical sources told Reuters on Sunday that the death toll in Egypt had risen to 672 and 25 others were missing.

Indonesian Government

A total of 236 Indonesians were killed, according to the UN data, while India’s foreign affairs agency said 98 Indians died during the pilgrimage. According to Reuters data Tunisia, Jordan, Iran And Senegal also reported deaths, bringing the total number of fatalities this year to at least 1,114.

Egypt’s crisis unit, which investigates the situation, said on Saturday it had suspended the licenses of 16 tourism companies and referred them to the public prosecutor. It accused them of being responsible for the deaths, which occurred mainly among pilgrims not registered under the official system. The unit said 31 deaths had been confirmed as a result of chronic illness among officially registered pilgrims.