Deadly Heatwave Claims Over 1,300 Lives in Saudi Arabia's Hajj Pilgrimage

Over 1,300 pilgrims died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to extreme heat at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom. Over 80% of the deaths were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in temperatures over 117°F to perform rituals in and around Mecca. Over 1.83 million Muslims performed the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, including more than 1.6 million foreigners and around 222,000 Saudis. Saudi Arabia spends billions on crowd control and safety, but the large number of pilgrims makes risks difficult to manage.