Saudi Arabia’s health minister said on Sunday the death toll during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage reached 1,301.
Speaking to state television, Fahd al-Jalajel said that 83 percent of the deceased were pilgrims who had undertaken the journey without the necessary permits.
Temperatures soared past 50 degrees Celsius in Mecca, and a recent study suggests rising temperatures are a growing concern.
The physical exertion of the pilgrimage, combined with the heat and lack of proper rest, is believed to be a major factor in the deaths.
According to Saudi authorities, more than 1.8 million people participated in the Hajj pilgrimage this year, amid record high temperatures.
