Saudi Arabia's Health Minister Fahd al-Jalajel announced on June 23 that 1,301 people died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage, with the majority being "unauthorised pilgrims," according to the Saudi Press Agency on June 23.

Reports from newspapers in several Muslim countries report that hundreds of people have been reported dead, with hundreds more missing, during this year’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia, as temperatures soar beyond 50 degrees Celsius on most days.

The minister stated that the health system provided over 465,000 specialised medical services, of which 141,000 were for unauthorised pilgrims.

Al-Jalajel reported that pilgrims' overall health conditions were "reassuring, especially given the high temperatures recorded in the holy sites."

He noted that the health system treated a large number of heat exhaustion cases, with some still receiving care.

"Of the 1,301 deaths, 83% were unauthorised pilgrims who walked long distances under the sun without shelter or rest. Many were elderly or had chronic diseases," the minister said.

Authorities made significant efforts to raise awareness about the risks of heat stress and emphasize the importance of following preventive measures, he added. The process of identifying the deceased and contacting their families was challenging, as many did not carry identification.

The minister highlighted that free health services for pilgrims began even before their arrival in Saudi Arabia, including awareness programs at air, sea, and land border crossings. Approximately 1.3mn preventive services were provided, including early detection and vaccinations.

Earlier, the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq al-Rabiah, announced that this year's Hajj attracted 1.8mn pilgrims from over 200 countries.