RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — The deaths of 1,300 pilgrims during the hajj in Saudi Arabia last year underscored the urgent need to mitigate dangers posed by extreme heat, with crowd management an essential first step, analysts say.
Temperatures soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius in the holy city of Mecca last June as 1.8 million worshippers took part in the annual rites, one of the five pillars of Islam. Saudi officials said 83 percent of the 1,301 recorded fatalities did not have official hajj permits and were therefore unable to access amenities meant to make the hajj more bearable, including air-conditioned tents.
The introduction of a general tourism visa in 2019 has made it easier for all foreigners, including permit-less pilgrims, to enter the country.Sealing off entry points to Mecca is 'very difficult', meaning Saudi authorities should expect irregular pilgrims again this year, said Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi politics at the University of Birmingham.
Prepares For Another Hajj Menaced By Extreme Heat
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