Article:
A scorching heatwave during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, has resulted in the deaths of hundreds of pilgrims, according to reports from several countries. The extreme temperatures, reaching up to 125 degrees Fahrenheit (51.8 degrees Celsius), took a major toll on one of the world's largest religious gatherings.

Unnamed Arab diplomats disclosed to the Agence France-Presse news service that 323 people from Egypt alone had succumbed to heat-related illnesses. Other countries have also reported casualties, including at least 138 from Indonesia, 41 from Jordan, and 35 from Tunisia. The death toll from the intense heatwave is expected to rise as official counts are still being determined.

The Hajj pilgrimage, which attracts over 1.8 million people annually, is considered one of the five pillars of Islam. However, the extreme heatwave experienced this year made the pilgrimage particularly challenging, especially for elderly participants. The suffocating conditions led to shocking scenes in Mecca, with reports of people collapsing and struggling to access necessary facilities and services.

Every year, Saudi Arabia approves a set number of pilgrim visas with quotas for different Muslim-majority countries. However, a significant number of people without visas still participate, contributing to the overcrowding and difficult conditions witnessed during the Hajj.

Despite Saudi Arabia's efforts to mitigate the dangers by providing air-conditioned tents, distributing water and umbrellas, planting trees, and preparing facilities to address heat-related illnesses, concerns persist about the sufficiency of these measures. Researchers based in Saudi Arabia had previously emphasized the need for further mitigation actions in the face of escalating heat.

The rising temperatures experienced during the Hajj reflect a global trend of increasing extreme heat days. A 2019 study indicated a significant warming trend of close to 2°C during the last 30 years, surpassing the global average increase, which was attributed to human-caused warming. By 2050, Mecca is projected to have 182 days of dangerous heat for those outdoors in the sun and 54 days of dangerous heat even in the shade.

The alarming levels of heat stress during the Hajj have prompted calls for enhanced measures to protect the well-being of pilgrims. Suggestions include adjusting the timing of the pilgrimage to cooler months and improving access to shade and cooling relief.

Saudi Arabia has not yet released an official death toll but has reported several thousand cases of heat stress and sunstroke. Despite the challenges posed by the extreme heat, the state news agency described this year's Hajj as a "success," citing effective execution of security, prevention, organization, health, services, and traffic management plans.

As the world continues to warm, mass-scale outdoor gatherings such as the Hajj highlight the lethal potential of extreme heat. Addressing and adapting to these rising temperatures is crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of participants in future religious and cultural events.