RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – A senior Saudi official on Friday addressed the kingdom’s handling of this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, after reports emerged of over 1,100 deaths, many due to extreme heat conditions. The official stated that the fatalities occurred despite the government’s preparedness and cited a failure by many to recognize the severe risk posed by the temperatures.
As the kingdom reels from the international scrutiny, the official emphasized that the state itself did not falter in its management of the annual Islamic event. An unofficial tally indicated a death toll of 1,126 individuals, with over half of the victims reportedly from Egypt.
According to Saudi authorities, this year saw a participation of approximately 1.8 million pilgrims, akin to last year’s numbers, with the majority arriving from overseas. The Hajj, which closed formally this Wednesday, operates on a quota system with countries allocated specific numbers of permits, which are then distributed through a lottery system.
Despite stringent regulations and the associated high costs, numerous pilgrims often attempt the Hajj without official permits, risking arrest and deportation. This year, in an unprecedented move reportedly ordered from high Saudi officials, around 400,000 unregistered attendees were allowed access to holy sites.
“An order came from above that we allow people who arrived at the gates of the holy places,” the Saudi official explained, acknowledging most of these were Egyptian nationals. An earlier report noted that among the deceased were 658 Egyptians, including 630 who were not registered.
Complications were exacerbated by the sweltering summer heat of Saudi Arabia, with temperatures soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit) near the Grand Mosque in Makkah, recorded early this week. Those without registration lacked access to essential amenities such as air-conditioned tents and official bus transport, which significantly reduces the physical toll on attendees.
Unregistered pilgrims faced additional hardships; some recounted their struggles to obtain medical attention or transportation for sick relatives, with many forced to endure long walks under harsh conditions. Although there wasn’t an explicit prohibition on these pilgrims using transport services, the senior official clarified that these resources were intended for those registered.
“There is no ban on them using the buses but these buses are prepared for the registered pilgrims that we know are coming,” said the senior official. The routes set aside for pilgrim buses were not equipped with medical and food service facilities available to registered attendees.
The embassy of the United States in Saudi Arabia confirmed that multiple U.S. citizens were also among those who died during this year’s pilgrimage, although detailed numbers and conditions of these deaths were not immediately provided.
The aftermath of the reported incidents has intensified discussions on the need for stricter control measures and enhanced facilities to accommodate all pilgrims, ensuring their safety under the extreme weather conditions that have become a recurrent challenge during the Hajj period. Saudi authorities have reiterated their commitment to evaluate and improve the current systems in place to prevent such tragedies in future pilgrimages.