Hundreds died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia amid intense heat, officials say

By SAMY MAGDY
Associated Press

MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Hundreds of people have died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as the faithful faced intense high temperatures at Islamic holy sites in the desert kingdom. Saudi Arabia has not commented on the death toll amid the heat during the pilgrimage, required of every able Muslim once in their life. However, hundreds of people lined up Wednesday at the Emergency Complex in Al-Muaisem neighborhood in Mecca, trying to get information about their missing family members. One list circulating online suggested at least 550 people died during the Hajj. The list offered no cause of death.