Extreme heat kills more than 900 people during Hajj pilgrimage

Nearly 2 million Muslims from around the world are participating in this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, amid scorching heat.

The Hajj pilgrimage lasts for several days, with activities held mainly outdoors, while many pilgrims are elderly and infirm.

Figures from countries that have sent pilgrims show that more than 900 people have died in hot weather conditions at this year's pilgrimage, while thousands have been reported missing.

The city of Mecca - Islam's holiest city - recorded a temperature of 51.8 degrees Celsius on June 17.

Climate scientists warn that the extreme heat that has killed so many pilgrims could become more frequent and severe as the climate crisis worsens.

Traditional rituals at the Hajj, including climbing Mount Arafat, are becoming increasingly dangerous to pilgrims' health in the current climate.

At least 600 Egyptian pilgrims have died during the Hajj this year, mostly due to the heat, an Arab diplomatic source said.

In addition, many pilgrims died from Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia and the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq. Last year, the Hajj pilgrimage also recorded more than 200 deaths, most of them from Indonesia.

The number of people missing at this year's pilgrimage has reportedly reached an alarming level, with relatives of the missing searching in hospitals and on social media.

Some pilgrims without proper registration and permits reportedly lack access to essential facilities, leaving them more vulnerable to extreme heat.

The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and all Muslims who can afford it must complete it at least once in their lifetime. Over the years, the largely outdoor ritual has been reduced, as Saudi Arabia's summers have become increasingly hot.

Saudi Arabia has taken a number of measures to mitigate the risk, such as creating shaded areas, water points and improving health care capacity.

Spraying water on the crowd to cool it down was also done, but it was considered ineffective because if the temperature was too high, spraying water would not help cool people, and could even cause additional risks when the human body tried to release heat through sweat in humid conditions.