Record Heat Wave Claims Over 550 Lives at Hajj Pilgrimage, Exacerbating Health Risks for Devotees
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In a tragic unfolding at this year’s Hajj, over 550 pilgrims lost their lives, primarily due to the severe heat, with temperatures reaching extreme highs in Mecca. According to diplomatic sources, the overwhelming majority of these heat-related fatalities were Egyptians, accentuating the devastating impact of escalating temperatures on the annual Islamic pilgrimage. During one of the hottest periods recorded, temperatures at Mecca’s Grand Mosque surged to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 degrees …