Dozens of people died in scorching heat during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to the Saudi holy city of Mecca, according to government-controlled media reports across the Middle East and Africa.
With temperatures forecast to exceed 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius) on Tuesday, Saudi authorities urged pilgrims to stay hydrated, minimize outdoor activity and bring umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun.
Saudi Arabia has not reported any deaths, but reports from many countries where worshippers took part in the Hajj suggest the heat is proving deadly.
Jordan's state-run News Agency reported on Sunday that 14 pilgrims had died from exposure to the strong sun and heat. The agency said on Wednesday that burial permits had been issued for 41 Jordanian pilgrims in Mecca, but did not give details on the causes of death.
Tunisia's foreign ministry said at least 35 Tunisians had died, citing a “sharp rise in temperatures” and “scorching sun” associated with the hajj, state news agency Tunis Afrique reported on Tuesday.
Three pilgrims from Senegal also died, although the cause of death was not disclosed, according to a statement from the Senegalese foreign ministry. The Egyptian foreign ministry said Saudi consulate staff were working “around the clock” to help with the burial and search for missing Egyptian pilgrims, without giving the number.
Saudi Arabia's ministries did not immediately respond to questions about the reported deaths.
Muslims from around the world travel to Mecca every year for the five-day pilgrimage that ends on Wednesday. The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims who are financially and physically able must perform the rituals of the hajj at least once in their lifetime.
More than 1.8 million people performed the pilgrimage this year, 1.6 million of them from abroad, according to the Saudi Arabian General Authority for Statistics.
In recent years, many of the pilgrims, many of whom are elderly, have been suffering from heatstroke, and many have even died from the heat.
Saudi authorities on Tuesday called this year's Hajj season a “success,” with state media reporting Health Minister Fahad Al-Jarajjer as saying they were “particularly pleased that, despite the significant number of pilgrims and the challenges posed by high temperatures, there has been no outbreak or other public health threat.”
Officials also cited “advanced cooling systems” and a “consistent supply” of water to pilgrims to ensure a “smooth and safe Hajj for all.”
Wayda Saad Contributed report.