CAIRO (Reuters) – Fourteen Jordanians have been reported lifeless in the course of the annual Muslim haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, a few of them on account of warmth stroke, whereas 17 others have been reported lacking, the Jordanian international ministry mentioned in a press release on Sunday.
At the very least of six of the fatalities have been warmth associated, the ministry mentioned on Saturday, with temperatures predicted to achieve 47 levels Celsius (116 Fahrenheit) in Mecca on Monday.
It did not specify on Sunday whether or not the upper demise toll was additionally because of the warmth.
The haj, which is able to finish on Wednesday, is likely one of the largest mass gatherings on the earth, with greater than 1.8 million pilgrims anticipated to participate this yr, in response to the Saudi Basic Authority for Statistics.
Stampedes, tent fires, warmth and different elements have precipitated tons of of deaths on the occasion over the previous 30 years.
The Saudi well being ministry issued an advisory on Thursday warning of hovering temperatures and advising pilgrims to remain hydrated and keep away from being outside in the course of the hottest hours of the day between 11 a.m. (0800 GMT) and three p.m.
The Jordanian international ministry was coordinating with Saudi authorities on procedures to bury or transport the our bodies of the deceased in response to their household’s needs, it mentioned on Sunday.
In 2015, a lethal crush on the haj close to Mecca killed at the very least 2,070 folks, in response to a Reuters tally on the time.