Hundreds of pilgrims died while performing Hajj rituals in Mecca

SANAA, June 19 (YPA) – Over 300 Egyptian pilgrims and 60 Jordanian pilgrims died during the past days while performing Hajj rituals in Mecca.

Agence France-Presse quoted unnamed Arab diplomats as saying that the Egyptian pilgrims died while performing the Hajj, most of them for reasons related to high temperatures.

At least 60 Jordanian pilgrims also passed away, that was, more than the official number announced by Amman earlier, which amounted to 41 deaths, thus raising the death toll to 577, according to an Agence France-Presse.

Two diplomats added that the total number in Al-Muaisem morgue, the largest morgue in Mecca, reached 550 bodies.

Jordan announced that it had issued 41 burial permits for Jordanian citizens who died of sunstroke, confirming through a statement from the Ministry of Endowments that all deaths were of people not registered with the Hajj delegation.

On Tuesday, the Tunisian authorities announced the death of 35 of its citizens during the current season, which coincided with a sharp rise in temperatures in Mecca.

“The number of deceased Tunisian pilgrims reached 35 pilgrims on Tuesday,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Facebook.

Other countries that reported deaths during this year’s Hajj season include Indonesia, Iran and Senegal.

AA