Twenty-three Tunisian citizens died during the Haj pilgrimage, Tunisian state news agency Agence Tunis-Afrique-Presse reported.
Family members cited extreme heat as the cause and are searching for missing relatives in Saudi hospitals. Six Jordanian citizens also died from heat stroke, with the death toll later rising to 14. Eleven Iranians died and 24 were hospitalized, and three Senegalese citizens also perished. Indonesia reported 144 deaths among its citizens.
Past incidents during Haj include stampedes and fires, prompting Saudi Arabia to enhance safety measures. Rising global temperatures pose new challenges, with studies warning of worsening heat risks for pilgrims.
