Temperatures Reached 51.8°C (125°F) in Makkah Last June
The deaths of 1,300 pilgrims during last year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia underscored the urgent need to mitigate the dangers posed by extreme heat, with crowd management being an essential first step, analysts say.
Temperatures soared to 51.8°C (125°F) in the holy city of Makkah last June as 1.8 million worshippers took part in the annual rites. Saudi officials reported that 83% of the 1,301 fatalities did not have official Hajj permits and were unable to access amenities like air-conditioned tents, which could have helped mitigate the heat.
This tragic event highlighted the severe impacts of heat in 2024, which the Copernicus Climate Change Service declared the hottest year ever recorded.
While Riyadh has not detailed preparations for this year’s pilgrimage, experts believe authorities will work to avoid a repeat of last year’s crisis.
