Reported 8 months ago
In June and July, approximately 1.8 million Muslims flocked to Mecca for the annual pilgrimage month, facing extreme heat with temperatures reaching 51.8 degrees Celsius. At least 550 pilgrims succumbed to the scorching temperatures during the pilgrimage, with Egypt and Jordan being the most affected countries. Authorities in Saudi Arabia have treated over 2,000 pilgrims due to heat-related illnesses. The rising temperatures in Mecca due to climate change have posed challenges to the pilgrims, with many resorting to cooling measures like distributing cold drinks and ice cream. The unregistered pilgrims, who did not have pilgrimage permits, were unable to access the provided air conditioning, leading to a significant increase in heat-related deaths.
Source: YAHOO