Rafiq Maqbool/AP
Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun as they arrive to throw stones at the pillars to mark the symbolic stoning of Satan in Mina near the holy city of Mecca on June 18, 2024.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
CNN
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Hundreds of people have died and thousands have been treated for heat stroke during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca amid extreme temperatures of 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
CNN Indonesia, citing the Hajj Management Office of the country's Consulate General in Saudi Arabia, reported that about 165 Indonesians were among the dead. Additionally, at least 41 Jordanians, 35 Tunisians and 11 Iranians have been killed, according to officials in each country.
According to Iran's semi-official Tasnim news agency, the Iranian Red Crescent said Wednesday that another 22 Jordanians were missing and 26 Iranians were hospitalized.
The Iranian Red Crescent said some Iranians died of heatstroke, while others had underlying conditions.
The death toll is expected to rise as Saudi Arabia and Egypt have yet to release official figures. Additionally, governments only know about pilgrims who have traveled to Mecca by registering as part of their country's quota – risking higher deaths among unregistered pilgrims.
The Saudi government said on Monday that more than 2,700 people have been treated for heat stroke. Meanwhile, hundreds of people have taken to social media to post about their loved ones being unaccounted for.
According to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, more than 1.8 million people are participating in the Hajj this year, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
While deaths among pilgrims are not uncommon (last year there were more than 200), this year's gathering is being held amid particularly high temperatures.
The Hajj season changes every year according to the Islamic calendar and this year it falls in June, one of the hottest months in the kingdom.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia advised pilgrims not to “stony the devil” during certain hours after temperatures reach 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit).
Hajj authorities have asked pilgrims to carry umbrellas and stay hydrated in the harsh conditions, while the Saudi military has deployed more than 1,600 personnel, along with a medical unit specifically for heat stroke and 30 rapid response teams. Another 5,000 health and first aid volunteers are participating.
Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, requiring every Muslim who is physically and financially able to travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.
The Hajj involves a number of elaborate rituals, including the wearing of a special garment that symbolizes human equality and unity before God, a circular, counter-clockwise procession around the Kaaba, and the symbolic stoning of evil.
This story has been updated with additional information. Edward Sekiris and Handi Al-Kashali contributed reporting.