Gruelling Heat Nearing 52 Degrees Causes Death of More Than 550 Hajj Pilgrims In Mecca

According to reports, at least 550 pilgrims died during the hajj this year because of the scorching temperatures.

At least 323 of the dead pilgrims were Egyptians. All of them except one died because of heat-related illnesses.

At least 60 Jordanians also died. The new deaths bring the total reported so far by multiple countries to 577, according to an AFP tally.

As per the diplomats, the bodies at the morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of the biggest in Mecca, were 550.

All Muslims with the means must complete Hajj at least once.

Temperatures hit 51.8 degrees Celsius at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, the Saudi national meteorology centre said.

Around 1.8 million pilgrims took part in the hajj this year, 1.6 million of them from abroad, according to Saudi authorities.