At Least 14 Dead During Hajj Heat Waves, Jordanian Foreign Ministry Says

Fourteen Jordanian nationals have died during this year’s hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, while another 17 are reported missing, Jordan’s foreign ministry said Sunday.  

Earlier over the weekend, on Saturday, the foreign ministry disclosed that six individuals had died because of heat-related complications.  

Jordanian authorities did not specify on Sunday whether the heat was the cause of all fourteen confirmed fatalities, despite reports of temperatures in Mecca reaching a staggering 47 degrees Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in recent days. 

On Sunday, the Saudi and Jordanian foreign ministries confirmed that they are coordinating with the families of the deceased regarding burial arrangements and body transport. 

Saudi authorities oversee safety precautions in Mecca, considered Islam’s holiest city, for the yearly pilgrimage. On Thursday, they issued a heat-related advisory, telling all pilgrims to stay hydrated and remain indoors during the hottest hours of the day, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

The hajj, which lasts until Wednesday, is one of the largest events globally. The Saudi Arabian statistical bureau anticipates 1.8 million participants this year. 

All able Muslims are expected to complete the hajj once in their lifetime.