James Myers of OAN
Friday, June 21, 2024, 3:00 PM
Hundreds of people have died in the Middle East as extreme heat hits the region.
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The official death toll from this year’s Hajj pilgrimage is nearly 500, but the real toll could be much higher with more than 600 Muslim worshippers reporting falling ill on the way to Mecca.
At least 14 Malaysians, 165 Indonesians, 68 Jordanians, 35 Pakistanis, 35 Tunisians, 11 Iranians and 98 Indians were killed, according to foreign authorities.
Additionally, the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that 22 Jordanians are currently hospitalized and at least 16 are still missing.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent said on Wednesday that dozens of Iranians had been hospitalized with heatstroke and other related symptoms.
according to CNNThe tally brings the latest official death toll during this year’s pilgrimage to at least 460. The death toll is expected to rise, as Saudi Arabia has yet to release official figures.
The pilgrims reportedly traveled in heat of 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Egyptian presidency, the crisis response unit will be headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and will “provide assistance to the families of the dead.”
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisiha also instructed forces to “expeditiously coordinate with Saudi Arabian authorities to facilitate the return of the bodies” of those killed, the statement said.
A statement from the Egyptian Cabinet on Thursday said the official Egyptian death toll now stands at 28. Egyptian officials are visiting medical centers to obtain more information on hospitalized citizens and to assess the condition of those who have died.
“There are many Egyptians who are not registered in the Hajj database, which means it takes twice as much effort and longer to search for missing people and find their relatives,” the cabinet said.
The Hajj is one of the main pillars of Islam. It is mandatory for physically able-bodied Muslims to participate in the Hajj at least once in their lifetime. The Hajj is one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings, and more than 1.8 million pilgrims are expected to take part in this year’s Hajj, according to Saudi Arabian authorities.
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