The annual Hajj pilgrimage, a mandatory journey for Muslims who have the means, is increasingly challenged by the escalating impacts of climate change. This year's pilgrimage was particularly devastating, with over 550 pilgrims losing their lives due to soaring temperatures in Mecca. Diplomatic sources reported the death toll on Tuesday, underscoring the severe conditions faced by participants as temperatures climbed above 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
A recent study from Saudi Arabia highlighted a worrying trend: temperatures in the Hajj ritual areas are increasing by 0.4 degrees Celsius (0.72 degrees Fahrenheit) per decade. This incremental rise is making the pilgrimage progressively more hazardous, as evidenced by this year's fatalities.
Among the deceased, 323 were Egyptians, primarily victims of heat-related illnesses. According to two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries' responses, the extreme heat proved fatal for most of the Egyptian pilgrims. "All of the Egyptians died due to the heat, except for one who suffered fatal injuries in a minor crowd crush," one diplomat revealed. This tragic statistic was corroborated by the hospital morgue in Al-Muaisem, Mecca.
The alarming death toll from this year's Hajj highlights the urgent need for enhanced measures to protect pilgrims from the increasingly harsh conditions brought about by climate change.
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