47 degrees in Mecca during hajj: "Physically exhausting"
On Sunday, 1.8 million Muslims gathered under the scorching sun in Mecca to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil, one of the last rites of the hajj pilgrimage, writes AFP.
The temperature reached a maximum of 47 degrees. According to Saudi authorities, 10,000 cases of heat-related illnesses have been reported, of which one-tenth was heat stroke.
The AP reporter on the ground saw many pilgrims, especially the elderly, collapse and be carried away by security and medical personnel.
- It is physically exhausting, but very spiritually charged. I was constantly completely absorbed, says 49-year-old Neron Khan from Canada.
At least 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died in the heat, according to Jordanian authorities.
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Several pilgrims dead in extreme heat during hajj
14 people have died after suffering from heatstroke during the Muslim Hajj pilgrimage, according to Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, writes TT.
It is extremely hot in the area and Saudi Arabian authorities have warned of temperatures of up to 50 degrees. The pilgrims have been asked to have an umbrella to protect themselves from the sun, and to drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration, writes CNN.
Over 1.8 million pilgrims participate in this year's hajj, which is the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca.
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