The annual Muslim pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca that wrapped up last week became a death march for over 1,300 Hajj participants who died in temperatures that climbed above 124 degrees.
Saudi Arabia's health minister Fahad Al-Jalajel, who on Sunday announced a death total of 1,301, blamed the fatalities on pilgrims "walking long distances under direct sunlight without adequate shelter or comfort."
The 5-6 day odyssey of hiking and prayer drew almost 2 million pilgrims from around the world. Fatalities included a number of elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases, A-Jalajel said. About 83% of the fatalities were among people who were not authorized to make the pilgrimage, he said.



Ukrainian offensives now account for a quarter of frontline clashes, with drones responsible for 60% of...
Israeli occupation forces carried out a series of invasions across several West Bank towns on Wednesday,...
Vice President JD Vance was reportedly booed at the Milan Cortina Winter Games as U.S. Olympians...
On Thursday, Feb. 5, Ukraine and Russia carried out a prisoner exchange that resulted in the...





























