Heat in Mecca kills 14 pilgrims on hajj

At least 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died while performing rituals at the hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, where temperatures reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit on Sunday. An additional 17 pilgrims were reported missing, according to Jordan’s official news agency.

More than 2,700 cases of heat stress and sunstroke were reported among pilgrims by the Saudi Health Ministry, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

This year, the hajj started on Friday and will end on Wednesday. It is being attended by 1.8 million people from all over the world.

Historically, the hajj has seen fatalities from stampedes and heat stress, particularly among older pilgrims. Saudi authorities have implemented measures like water mist sprays, water distribution, umbrellas and air-conditioned transport to mitigate heat-related health risks.