- Temperatures are forecast to reach 49°C in Mecca.
- This year's Hajj attracted around 1.8 million pilgrims.
- The ministry advises “God's guests not to expose themselves to the sun.”
MINA: Saudi Arabia warned on Monday of rising temperatures in Mecca as Muslim pilgrims concluded the Hajj in scorching conditions, with more than a dozen heat-related deaths confirmed.
One of the world's largest religious gatherings took place again this year during the hot Saudi summer, with authorities recording more than 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone, the Health Ministry said.
On Monday, temperatures were forecast to reach 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in Mecca and nearby Mina, where other people were throwing stones at three concrete walls, a ritual known as “stoning of the devil,” which is the last great step of the Hajj.
“The holy places today record the highest temperatures since the beginning of the Hajj… with a degree that can reach 49 degrees Celsius, and we advise God's guests not to expose themselves to the sun,” said the Ministry of Health, according to affiliated state Al-Ekhbariya channel.
The Saudi Health Ministry on Sunday announced 2,764 cases of heat exhaustion due to sun exposure and “non-compliance with guidelines,” which include sheltering from the sun during the hottest hours of the day in the afternoon.
“Prevention is most important, and pilgrims' commitment not to go out at peak times except when necessary, or to use umbrellas, would reduce the incidence of heat exhaustion,” the statement said.
“Our health guidelines for the coming days are clear and simple: carry an umbrella, drink water regularly and avoid sun exposure.”
The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and every Muslim with the means must perform it at least once.
This year's Hajj attracted around 1.8 million pilgrims, 1.6 million of them from abroad, according to Saudi authorities.
Organizing the Hajj is a source of prestige for the Saudi royal family, and King Salman's title includes “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques” in Mecca and Medina.
