What’s behind deaths at this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia? | BBC News

Hundreds of people are thought to have died during the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia – most of them due to extreme heat as temperatures soared past 51 degrees Celsius.

AFP news agency quoted an Arab diplomat as saying 658 Egyptians had died. Indonesia said that more than 200 of its nationals had died. India said 98 people were known to have died.

Pakistan, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, Sudan and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region have also confirmed deaths. The US believes a number of Americans died, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage made by Muslims to the holy city of Mecca.

All Muslims who are financially and physically able must complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

About 1.8 million people have taken part this year, Saudi Arabia says.

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