They weren’t prepared for 116F or 47C degree heat: about 20 people have died from Jordan and Iran and more are missing amid the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Officials to urge worshippers to avoid the blistering heat as climate change take its toll on the region.
Hajj is a pilgrimage to Mecca that Muslims are encouraged to take at least once in their lifetime to Mecca, the holiest site in Islam. It began on Friday and ends on Wednesday. Hajj means “pilgrimage made to the Kaaba“, a journey that Muslims believe will clean their souls from sins – the same way Jews and Christians would make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to the Holy City. But no-one should expect to die on the journey.
Shocking videos of people left on the side of the road to die are circling on Twitter, prompting people to ask why are other pilgrims leaving the bodies alone, and also asking why the Saudi authorities aren’t taking care of the situation by warning people about the dangers of heat stroke and death by extreme climate events.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the city of Mecca. It began on Friday this year and will run until Wednesday. Muslims often travel to Medina as well during the pilgrimage.
Temperatures have been high during this pilgrimage in the past years when it fell on summer months. AccuWeather reported a high of 113 degrees F (45 degrees C) in Mecca on Monday, June 17. But AFP reported that the Saudi weather service recorded a reading of 125 degrees F (52 C) at the city’s grand mosque.
The Saudi Health Ministry said that 2,764 pilgrims on Sunday suffered from heat stress.
What can Saudi Arabia do to keep people cool? Start planting trees. Natural shade offered by trees allows the air to circulate, cooling ground temperatures as well. Trees cool our cities by providing shade but also by releasing water vapor from their leaves, which cools the air when it evaporates. Trees can provide up to 10 degrees C less (or 18 F less).
In the meantime, cooling mists, personal umbrellas, staying hydrated. Or, perhaps, postponing the Hajj to the evening time when the sun has set.
Tips to stay cool during Hajj
- Avoid direct exposure to sun.
- Use light-colored umbrellas.
- Drink enough water to replace lost fluids.
- Sit in shade and cool areas.
- Get enough sleep and rest.
- Do not rush to perform the rituals of Hajj to avoid fatigue.
Planning Hajj for next year? Download this free guide to a green Hajj and Umrah.
Update June 19, about 350 pilgrims are reported to have died this week.
