Mecca, Saudi Arabia – In the aftermath of the hajj ceremonies in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, families and friends of missing pilgrims are desperately searching for information on their loved ones. The hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, was marked by extreme heat this year, with temperatures soaring to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit). At least 550 pilgrims have been reported dead, primarily due to heat-related illnesses. The total death toll stands at 645, according to reports from various countries.
Among the missing is Mabrouka bint Salem Shushana of Tunisia, a woman in her early 70s who disappeared after the climax of the pilgrimage at Mount Arafat. Her husband, Mohammed, expressed his anguish at not being able to locate her in any hospitals. The lack of an official hajj permit prevented her from accessing air-conditioned facilities, leaving her exposed to the scorching temperatures.
The search for missing pilgrims has extended to social media, where families and friends are sharing photos and appeals for information. In Egypt, friends and family of Ghada Mahmoud Ahmed Dawood are frantically trying to locate her after she went missing following the pilgrimage. With many pilgrims going through irregular channels and facing challenges due to the extreme heat, concerns for their well-being are mounting.
The intense heat during the hajj rituals has raised questions about the safety measures in place and the impact of climate change on such large-scale religious gatherings. Authorities from various countries have confirmed fatalities, with a significant number of deaths attributed to heat-related conditions. Despite efforts to modernize the pilgrimage experience with tourism visas, the risks faced by pilgrims, including those with official permits, remain a cause for concern.
As the search for missing pilgrims continues, families are grappling with the uncertainty of not knowing the fate of their loved ones. The hajj, a deeply significant event for Muslims, has been marred by tragedy this year, underscoring the challenges posed by extreme weather conditions and the need for enhanced safety measures to protect pilgrims in the future.