High Death Toll During 2024 Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia
Over 1,300 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia due to extreme high temperatures. The majority of the fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who walked long distances in scorching heat to perform rituals in Mecca. The pilgrimage's history has seen deadly incidents, with the 2015 stampede being the deadliest, killing over 2,400 pilgrims. The extreme heat during this year's Hajj period led to many pilgrims fainting and collapsing.