Over 1000 Pilgrims Have Died During Hajj; 17 Are Iranian

Officials said on Sunday that more than 1000 people have lost their lives during this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia; at least 17 of the deceased are Iranian pilgrims. Abdol-Fattah Nowab, representative of Ali Khamenei in Hajj and Pilgrimage Affairs, stated on Saturday: 'So far, 17 pilgrims have died, one in Medina and 16 in Mecca.' This year's Hajj is taking place under extreme heat in the holy sites of the Arabian desert. According to the Associated Press, two officials in Cairo reported that more than half of the deceased were Egyptian citizens. Officials stated that Egypt has revoked the licenses of 16 travel companies that assisted unauthorized pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia, which is hosting the pilgrims, has not commented on the deaths during the Hajj. The Egyptian government reported that 31 authorized pilgrims died due to chronic illnesses during this year's Hajj, but did not provide official statistics for other pilgrims. However, a cabinet official mentioned that at least 630 other Egyptians died during the pilgrimage, most of the deaths reported in the emergency unit of a neighborhood in Mecca. An Egyptian diplomat confirmed this figure, stating that most of the deceased have been buried in Saudi Arabia. These officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to provide explanations to reporters. According to data from the Indonesian government, a total of 236 Indonesians also died. India also announced that 98 Indian citizens lost their lives during the Hajj. According to Reuters statistics, other deaths have also been reported from Tunisia, Jordan, and Senegal, bringing the total fatalities this year to at least 1114. The extreme summer heat has affected the lives of millions around the world. At least five Iranians and 14 Jordanians died during the Hajj.