The death toll from the annual Hajj pilgrimage has risen to over 900, with many more still missing. The scorching heat in Mecca, which reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) on Monday, has taken a devastating toll on pilgrims, many of whom are elderly and infirm.
Friends and family are desperately searching for their loved ones, scouring hospitals and posting pleas on social media. The Egyptian government has reported at least 600 deaths among its citizens, with many more feared dead.
One pilgrim, Mabrouka bint Salem Shushana from Tunisia, has been missing since Saturday. Her husband, Mohammed, told AFP that she was unregistered and couldn’t access air-conditioned facilities, leaving her vulnerable to the heat.
Social media platforms are filled with pictures of missing pilgrims and requests for information. One family friend is searching for Ghada Mahmoud Ahmed Dawood, an Egyptian pilgrim who went missing on Saturday. “We haven’t found her on the list of the dead, so we’re still hopeful she’s alive,” the friend said.
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all Muslims with the means must complete it at least once. However, the timing of the pilgrimage, which falls during the Saudi summer, has raised concerns about the safety of pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia has not released official figures on fatalities, but reports suggest that many pilgrims have died due to heat exhaustion and natural causes. Last year, over 200 pilgrims were reported dead, mostly from Indonesia.
Experts say that many pilgrims attempt to perform the Hajj through irregular channels, which can leave them vulnerable to the elements. “Before, only residents of the kingdom could do that, and they know the situation,” said Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics. “For these tourist visa guys, it’s like being on the migrant route without any idea of what to expect.”
As the search for missing pilgrims continues, many are left with the devastating reality of losing loved ones during a sacred religious ritual.