A man affected by the scorching heat is helped by another Muslim pilgrim and police officer the site of the symbolic 'stoning of the devil' ritual during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mina on Jun 16, 2024. The minister, quoted by state television, said that deaths were caused by pilgrims"walking long distances under direct sunlight without adequate shelter or comfort".
Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to shade themselves from the sun as they arrive at the base of Mount Arafat, also known as Jabal al-Rahma or Mount of Mercy, during the annual Haj pilgrimage on Jun 15, 2024. Even for those who can obtain them, the steep costs spur many pilgrims to attempt the Haj without a permit
But later, the senior Saudi official said on Friday,"an order came from above that we allow people who arrived at the gates of the holy places" to participate."Almost all of them from one nationality," the official added, an apparent reference to Egypt.