Saudi Arabia acknowledged the death of more than 1,300 pilgrims this Sunday During the Hajj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, he was affected mainly by the heat, raising the temperature to almost 52 degrees.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Health said in a statement that 1,301 people had died during the Hajj rites. exposure to thermal stress, 83% of them did not have permission to perform the pilgrimage.

The vast majority of these pilgrims They traveled “irregularly” and did not participate in official delegations. respective countries.

The deceased “traveled long distances under the sun’s rays, without shelter or comfort, and among them were several elderly people and people suffering from chronic diseases,” the note details the “hazards of heat stress exposure.”

The department noted that the relatives of the victims were contacted after they were identified, and this is a difficult task that takes time.”given that many of the dead did not have any information or identification.”

“The necessary procedures were carried out to identify them, bury them and honor their memory in Mecca, and their death certificates were issued.” he added.

Health and security sources in Egypt said today EFE who grew up at least 672 deaths of Muslim believers of Egyptian nationality, Although the government confirmed the deaths of at least 31 pilgrims traveling on official missions, it admitted that a “large number” were traveling without registration.

Indonesia It is the second worst affected country with about 200 dead Among pilgrims, it is followed by India, with 98 deaths, and Jordan with 75 deaths, all due to “extreme heat,” although most countries reporting pilgrimage deaths do not indicate the cause of the deaths.

Countries have a formal mission in which the people who make it up have permits and visas that Saudi Arabia issues exclusively for the ritual, But because of the high price of this trip, with an average cost of $5,000 per person, many are choosing other routes that the Saudi kingdom considers illegal.

These believers, traveling unofficially, For example, with a tourist visa, they had no access to air-conditioned accommodations or tents during the pilgrimage, so their only refuge from the extreme heat was the streets of Islam’s holiest city.

(EFE)