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At least 13 Iranians among pilgrims died on Saturday due to soaring temperatures in Saudi Arabia's holy cities, Iranian state media reported.
A statement issued by the Health and Treatment Operation Unit of the Iranian Red Crescent Society said, "The total number of Iranian Hajj pilgrims who died during the 2025 Hajj reached 13 as of Friday." In recent days, the temperature in the holy cities of Saudi Arabia has risen above 47 degrees Celsius, causing Hajj pilgrims to face widespread heatstroke, IRNA news agency reported. According to IRNA, 86,700 Iranians have gone to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this year.
During last year's pilgrimage, at least 1,200 pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia, including 22 Iranians. During Hajj that year, the temperature in Saudi Arabia was measured as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius. Due to excessive heat, the natural coldness of the body and the disorder of the systems will cause problems, which will lead to symptoms such as dizziness, headache and organ failure, and eventually death.
Water is sprinkled by fans on the road to provide cooling to the pilgrims. Photo: AP/RASS
In a statement released on Saturday, Iran also advised pilgrims to avoid direct sunlight, avoid dehydration, and take other precautions to reduce the risk of heatstroke. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that at least 500,000 people die annually due to climate change, and warns that the actual number of deaths could be up to 30 times higher.
