Ten countries reported that their citizens had died during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.
Thursday 20 June 2024 18:06, UK
More than 1,000 people have been reported killed during the Hajj pilgrimage to the city of Mecca.
That is The number increased by nearly 500 yesterday.According to figures from the Associated Press.
Even in the shade the temperature reaches at least 51.8°C (125°F). Saudi Arabia city - the holiest city in Islam.
The new figures include 58 more EgyptianThis brings the number of Egyptian pilgrims who have died during Hajj to 658.
Of these, 630 were staying illegally in Saudi Arabia, which distributes pilgrimage visas by country under a quota system.
The Egyptian government announced on Thursday the setting up of a crisis response unit to investigate and said 28 deaths had been confirmed out of 50,752 officially registered Egyptian pilgrims.
The number of unregistered pilgrim deaths has not been disclosed.
A total of 1,081 deaths have been reported in 10 countries during the annual pilgrimage, one of Islam’s five major commandments.
The figures come from official statements and diplomats responding from various countries.
Pilgrims are using umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, and Saudi authorities have warned them to stay hydrated and to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours, between 11am and 3pm.
Hundreds of people have died during the Hajj in the past three decades in stampedes, tent fires and other accidents. About 240 people were reported killed last year.
High temperatures on four continents
Saudi Arabia isn’t the only country experiencing a heatwave: Extremely high temperatures are affecting cities on four continents.
Mediterranean countries are experiencing extreme heat, with forest fires burning in Portugal and Greece and fires burning on the north coast of Africa in Algeria, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth Observatory.
In Serbia, meteorologists expect temperatures to reach around 40°C (104°F) this week as winds from North Africa push a hot front into the Balkans.
Belgrade’s emergency services said doctors were called out 109 times overnight to treat patients with chronic illnesses, including heart problems.
The first cooling center in the United States will open in New York City this year.
Parts of Arizona, including Phoenix, are expected to see temperatures reach 45.5°C (114°F) on Thursday.
read more:
Katie Archibald misses match after garden accident
Two arrested for ‘running an illegal £1bn cryptocurrency exchange’
In India, New Delhi recorded its warmest night in at least 55 years on Wednesday, with the Safdarjung Observatory saying the temperature reached 35.2 degrees Celsius (95.4 degrees Fahrenheit) at 1 a.m.
According to the European Union’s climate change monitoring service, the past 12 consecutive months have been the warmest on record when compared year-on-year.