Hottest temperature reported in Mecca: 51.8 °C (125.2 °F)
Between 14 and 19 June 2024, at least 1,301 people on the
Hajj pilgrimage to
Mecca died due to extreme heat, with temperatures exceeding 50 °C (122 °F), making it the deadliest Hajj[1] to date.[2][3] Extreme heat caused heat stroke and dehydration, leading to the deaths. The hottest recorded temperature reported in the
Grand Mosque of Mecca was 51.8 °C (125.2 °F).[4] At least 2,764 cases of heat-related illness, like heat stroke, were reported on 16 June alone.[5] One person was killed in a
crowd crush, but it was unspecified if this was related to the heat.[6]
Hajj is a pilgrimage to Makkah, Saudi Arabia, made by 2–3 million Muslims per year.[7] The 2024 Hajj ran from the evening of 14 June through 19 June.
Casualties
The health minister of Saudi Arabia said at least 1,301 died during the pilgrimage.[3][8] Of the dead, at least 600 were Egyptian pilgrims. Jordanian diplomats stated that 60 Jordanians also died from extreme heat.[6] Tunisia's foreign ministry reported that at least 35 Tunisian pilgrims died during "a sharp rise in temperatures". Indonesia reported 132 Indonesian deaths, at least three of which were confirmed to be due to
heat stroke. Thirteen pilgrims from the
Kurdistan Region in Iraq were reported dead of reported heatstroke.[9] Five female pilgrims from
Jammu and Kashmir succumbed to heat stroke on
Mount Arafat and in
Muzdalifah.[10] Other pilgrims from Iran and Senegal were also among the dead.[11][12] Saudi authorities said there were over 2,700 instances of
heat exhaustion.[13]
An Arab diplomat said most Egyptian pilgrims died from heat-triggered health problems such as
high blood pressure.[14] Two Arab diplomats said a large number of pilgrims performed the Hajj without registration because they could not afford the official procedures, and it could have exacerbated the number of Egyptian casualties and injuries in general caused by extreme heat. Reasons for this included them not being able to access
air-conditioned facilities or official food or water stations, leading to prolonged periods of
dehydration, exposure to, and susceptibility to the extreme heat. One said the massive influx of unregistered pilgrims had likely overwhelmed the facilities in place, causing disorder in how food, water, and medical services were distributed.[4]
A witness to the disaster saw pilgrims lying still along the roadside and said ambulances "didn't know which way to turn".[15]
Egyptian prime minister
Mostafa Madbouly ordered the revocation of 16 travel agents' licenses and referred their managers to the public prosecutor's office for involvement in illegal facilitation of travel to Mecca.[49]
^Some Indonesian citizens were confirmed killed by heat. Hundreds more died of chronic conditions and heat was described as "a contributing factor".
^
abIt is reported that the majority died of chronic conditions. It is not confirmed if heat had influenced their deaths.
^A total of 15 Nigerians died during the Hajj. One committed suicide, so is not included there. Only one was confirmed to be directly killed by heat. The cause of death of the others is unknown.
^The five Russian deaths occurred "due to natural causes related to health and age". It is not known if heat had a role.