Over 2700 pilgrims suffered from heat strokes and exhaustion during their journeys to and from the Jamarat for the stoning rite.
This situation resulted in the deaths of an unspecified number of affected individuals.
Pilgrims from Nigeria and Africa as a whole were among the least affected.
Saudi hospitals in the vicinity were busy treating patients, while additional emergency calls to health officials overwhelmed the system, delaying some responses.
Al-Shalhoub, Head of the Emergency Unit at the Saudi Ministry of Health, reported that the 911 center in the Makkah region received a total of 78,872 calls on Sunday.
Temperatures soared to 47-48 degrees Celsius, with predictions indicating further increases in the coming days.
Pilgrims with tents located at the end of Mina had to walk 2.8 kilometers, taking approximately 90-105 minutes to reach Jamarat.
One pilgrim described witnessing numerous incidents on the way to Jamarat from Mina, stating, “I saw many of them falling asleep as a result of the heat when I was walking to Jamarat. Mostly affected were the elderly and young non-Arabs, Europeans and Indians. Some died while some were rushed to the hospital. In fact, the police and the ambulance services were overwhelmed with the number of cases related to heatwaves. Many were seen lying down with people offering first aid assistance mostly within a distance of 500 meters.”
The Saudi Ministry of Health confirmed that on Sunday alone, 2,764 pilgrims were affected by heat strokes and exhaustion, attributing this to a lack of adherence to guidelines regarding hydration and use of umbrellas.
The Ministry stated, “The number of cases of heat exhaustion and sunstroke reached 2,764 cases during this day alone as a result of some pilgrims not adhering to the instructions. We recommend campaign organizers to guide and educate pilgrims to adhere to the guidelines and protect them from exposure to any heat stress. Physical stress will lead to heat stress, and rest and spacing between performing rituals is important.”
In response to the extreme heat, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah issued a directive banning pilgrimages from 11 am to 4 pm for the ritual of throwing pebbles.
This directive, titled “Urgent Notice to All Hajj Office Heads,” mandates that security personnel enforce this restriction and that the Office of Hajj Affairs and service providers ensure compliance.
To mitigate the effects of the heat, Saudi Arabia has implemented extensive cooling systems, including manual and automated water sprinklers along the Jamarat-Mina road.
Many pilgrims also use rechargeable and battery-powered neck and handheld fans, as well as portable fans for personal cooling in crowded areas.
