The 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca has resulted in at least 1,170 deaths, with temperatures reaching as high as 50°C (122°F), making it the second-deadliest Hajj in modern history.
The tragedy has led to the dismissal of Tunisia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Chaibi, by President Kais Saied.
The Hajj 2024 has come to a close, leaving a lasting impact on numerous pilgrims. Unfortunately, this year’s pilgrimage was marked by a notably high number of fatalities, with at least 1,170 deaths reported due to extreme heat. Despite the tragic losses, many pilgrims expressed gratitude for the opportunity to complete their spiritual journey.
It was gathered that at least 1,170 Hajj pilgrims lost their lives due to extreme heat, with temperatures soaring beyond 50°C (122°F), making this year’s pilgrimage the second-deadliest Hajj in modern history.
Reports indicate that of the deceased, at least 600 were Egyptian pilgrims. Jordanian diplomats stated that 60 Jordanians also died from extreme heat. Tunisia’s foreign ministry reported that at least 35 Tunisian pilgrims died due to “a sharp rise in temperatures.”
A total of 15 Nigerians died during the pilgrimage, including one who reportedly committed suicide. Only one Nigerian pilgrim was confirmed to have died from heat, with the causes of death for the others remaining unknown.
An Egyptian diplomat noted that many Egyptian pilgrims died from heat-triggered health issues, such as high blood pressure. The diplomat also mentioned that a large number of Egyptians performed Hajj without registration due to the inability to afford official procedures. This lack of registration likely contributed to the high number of casualties, as unregistered pilgrims could not access air-conditioned facilities or official food and water stations, leading to dehydration and prolonged exposure to extreme heat. The influx of unregistered pilgrims overwhelmed the available facilities, causing chaos in the distribution of food, water, and medical services. Witnesses reported seeing pilgrims lying motionless along the roadside and ambulances being overwhelmed.
In a related development, Tunisian President Kais Saied fired Ibrahim Chaibi, the Minister of Religious Affairs, after 49 Tunisian citizens died during the Hajj.
A statement from the Tunisian Presidency did not provide specific reasons for the minister’s dismissal, but it coincided with the deaths of at least 49 Tunisian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Before his sacking, Chaibi mentioned that most of the deaths were among Tunisian pilgrims who traveled to the Kingdom on tourist visas rather than through the official Saudi Hajj program.
Hajj 2024: Tunisia Fires Minister of Religious Affairs As Death Toll Exceed Thousand
Tunisian President Kais Saied fires the minister of religious affairs, the presidency says in a statement, after 49 Tunisians were reported to have died so far in this year’s hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
A statement from the Tunisian Presidency did not provide specific reasons for the minister’s dismissal, but it coincided with the deaths of at least 49 Tunisian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Before his sacking, Chaibi mentioned that most of the deaths were among Tunisian pilgrims who traveled to the Kingdom on tourist visas rather than through the official Saudi Hajj program.
The tragedy has led to the dismissal of Tunisia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Chaibi, by President Kais Saied.
The Hajj 2024 has come to a close, leaving a lasting impact on numerous pilgrims. Unfortunately, this year’s pilgrimage was marked by a notably high number of fatalities, with at least 1,170 deaths reported due to extreme heat. Despite the tragic losses, many pilgrims expressed gratitude for the opportunity to complete their spiritual journey.
It was gathered that at least 1,170 Hajj pilgrims lost their lives due to extreme heat, with temperatures soaring beyond 50°C (122°F), making this year’s pilgrimage theI second-deadliest Hajj in modern history.
Reports indicate that of the deceased, at least 600 were Egyptian pilgrims. Jordanian diplomats stated that 60 Jordanians also died from extreme heat. Tunisia’s foreign ministry reported that at least 35 Tunisian pilgrims died due to “a sharp rise in temperatures.”
A total of 15 Nigerians died during the pilgrimage, including one who reportedly committed suicide. Only one Nigerian pilgrim was confirmed to have died from heat, with the causes of death for the others remaining unknown.
An Egyptian diplomat noted that many Egyptian pilgrims died from heat-triggered health issues, such as high blood pressure. The diplomat also mentioned that a large number of Egyptians performed Hajj without registration due to the inability to afford official procedures. This lack of registration likely contributed to the high number of casualties, as unregistered pilgrims could not access air-conditioned facilities or official food and water stations, leading to dehydration and prolonged exposure to extreme heat. The influx of unregistered pilgrims overwhelmed the available facilities, causing chaos in the distribution of food, water, and medical services. Witnesses reported seeing pilgrims lying motionless along the roadside and ambulances being overwhelmed.
Tunisian President Fires Minister of Religious Affairs
In a related development, Tunisian President Kais Saied fired Ibrahim Chaibi, the Minister of Religious Affairs, after 49 Tunisian citizens died during the Hajj.
The 2024 Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca has resulted in at least 1,170 deaths, with temperatures reaching as high as 50°C (122°F), making it the second-deadliest Hajj in modern history.
The tragedy has led to the dismissal of Tunisia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, Ibrahim Chaibi, by President Kais Saied.
Meanwhile, the Hajj 2024 has come to a close, leaving a lasting impact on numerous pilgrims. Unfortunately, this year’s pilgrimage was marked by a notably high number of fatalities, with at least 1,170 deaths reported due to extreme heat.
Despite the tragic losses, many pilgrims expressed gratitude for the opportunity to complete their spiritual journey.
It was gathered that at least 1,170 Hajj pilgrims lost their lives due to extreme heat, with temperatures soaring beyond 50°C (122°F), making this year’s pilgrimage theI second-deadliest Hajj in modern history.
Reports indicate that of the deceased, at least 600 were Egyptian pilgrims.
Jordanian diplomats stated that 60 Jordanians also died from extreme heat.
Tunisia’s foreign ministry reported that at least 35 Tunisian pilgrims died due to “a sharp rise in temperatures.”
A total of 15 Nigerians died during the pilgrimage, including one who reportedly committed suicide. Only one Nigerian pilgrim was confirmed to have died from heat, with the causes of death for the others remaining unknown.
An Egyptian diplomat noted that many Egyptian pilgrims died from heat-triggered health issues, such as high blood pressure.
The diplomat also mentioned that a large number of Egyptians performed Hajj without registration due to the inability to afford official procedures.
This lack of registration likely contributed to the high number of casualties, as unregistered pilgrims could not access air-conditioned facilities or official food and water stations, leading to dehydration and prolonged exposure to extreme heat.
The influx of unregistered pilgrims overwhelmed the available facilities, causing chaos in the distribution of food, water, and medical services. Witnesses reported seeing pilgrims lying motionless along the roadside and ambulances being overwhelmed.
