More than 1,300 pilgrims die during Haj in Saudi Arabia’s heat

More than 1,300 pilgrims died during this year’s Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, amid temperatures soaring up to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit). Saudi authorities revealed that most of the deceased were unauthorized pilgrims who did not have official permits and lacked adequate shelter to face the extreme heat. Saudi health minister Fahd Al-Jalajel reported that a staggering 83% of the 1,301 deaths were among unauthorized pilgrims. These individuals had to walk long distances under the intense sun.