Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims who are financially and physically able must undertake it at least once in their lifetime.
Muslims perform the Eid al-Adha morning prayer around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. (Photo by AFP)
During this year’s Hajj, which began on June 14, temperatures had soared up to 51.8°C or 125°F in Mecca.
A man effected by the scorching heat is helped by a member of the Saudi security forces as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)
And many of people who died had walked long distances in direct sunlight without adequate shelter, according to Saudi authorities.
Prospective pilgrims pray at the Jabal ar-Rahmah in Arafat as Muslims continue their worship to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
That’s because the majority of them did not have permits to perform Hajj, according to Saudi authorities.
Muslim pilgrim arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual during the annual hajj pilgrimage in Mina on June 16, 2024. (Photo by Fadel SENNA / AFP)
To take part in Hajj, people have to register for a permit and purchase a travel package on an official platform.
Prospective pilgrims continue their worship to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage as they take part in the stoning of the devil at Jamrat al-Aqaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But due to the high price of packages – which can cost up to more than 10,000 US dollars per person – many people try to access the site illegally.
A man effected by the scorching heat is helped by another as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)
They may do this through booking through illegal tour operators and smugglers.
A man effected by the scorching heat is helped by others as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)
This means they aren’t able to travel in tour buses and don’t have arranged food, water and accommodation in the heat.
Rescuers carry away a man, affected by the scorching heat, on a stretcher as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)
Many of the deceased were elderly or suffered from chronic illnesses, according to Saudi authorities.
A woman effected by the scorching heat rests as Muslim pilgrims arrive to perform the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual as part of the hajj pilgrimage in Mina, near Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca. (Photo by Fadel Senna / AFP)
This is actually not the first time so many people have died at Hajj.
In fact, in 2015, more than 2,000 were killed after a stampede broke out, making it the "deadliest Hajj disaster in history”.
Prospective pilgrims visit the Mountain of Mercy (Mount Arafat), which is the place where Adam and Eve reunited on Earth after falling from Heaven and the first repentance was accepted. (Photo by Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images)
But the increasingly high costs of the packages in recent years has worsened the situation, especially for people from countries like Egypt and Jordan, which are struggling with rising economic desperation.
Prospective pilgrims pray at the Jabal ar-Rahmah in Arafat as Muslims continue their worship to fulfill the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Sarp Ozer/Anadolu via Getty Images)
The timing of the Hajj, which fell during the extremely hot Saudi summer this year, has also become a growing challenge due to global warming.
Kassy Cho
