Saudi Arabia Issues Heatwave Warning Following 2,700 Cases of Exhaustion
As Muslim pilgrims concluded the annual hajj pilgrimage on Monday, Saudi Arabia issued warnings of dangerously high temperatures in Mecca, where more than a dozen deaths have been linked to heat-related conditions.
The pilgrimage, which draws millions from around the world to Islam’s holiest sites, coincided with scorching summer conditions in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi health ministry reported over 2,700 cases of heat exhaustion on Sunday alone, underscoring the challenges faced by pilgrims amid soaring temperatures reaching up to 49 degrees Celsius.
“The holy sites today record the highest temperatures since the beginning of hajj… with a degree that may reach 49 degrees Celsius, and we advise the guests of God not to be exposed to the sun,” the Saudi health ministry cautioned via the state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel.
Tragically, the heatwave has already claimed lives. Jordan’s foreign ministry confirmed the deaths of 14 of its pilgrims due to sunstroke, with another 17 reported missing. Iran reported five deaths among its pilgrims, while Senegal confirmed three fatalities.
The Saudi health ministry attributed the surge in heat-related illnesses to pilgrims’ non-compliance with safety guidelines, urging them to seek shelter during peak sun hours, carry umbrellas, and stay hydrated.
“Prevention is the most important, and the commitment of pilgrims not to go out at peak times except when necessary, or to use an umbrella, would reduce the incidence of heat exhaustion,” the ministry emphasized.
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, requires able-bodied Muslims to perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it. This year’s hajj attracted approximately 1.8 million pilgrims, including 1.6 million from overseas.
Hosting the hajj is a matter of immense prestige for Saudi Arabia’s ruling monarchy, with King Salman bearing the title “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” in Mecca and Medina. The event is a focal point of Saudi efforts to bolster its standing as the guardian of Islam’s holiest sites.
Despite the challenges posed by the extreme heat, pilgrims continued to fulfill the rites of hajj, including the symbolic stoning of the devil in nearby Mina, marking the culmination of the pilgrimage rituals.
