Over 100 Indonesian Pilgrims Die during Hajj

Saudi Arabia – At least 138 pilgrims from Indonesia have died in Saudi Arabia during hajj, as reported by the Consulate General of Indonesia in Jeddah on Tuesday (June 18).

The Consul for Hajj Affairs, Nasrullah Jasam, confirmed that the deaths were caused by various factors, including heatstroke.

"Although heatstroke is one of the contributing factors, it has not directly caused any deaths so far," he said in a statement.

However, Jasam stated that the number of pilgrim deaths this year has significantly decreased compared to the previous year, which  212 deaths.

As information, this year Indonesia sent a total of 241,000 pilgrims, consisting of 213,320 regular pilgrims and 27,680 special pilgrims.

Hajj season in Saudi Arabia is marked by extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 45 to 48 degrees Celsius.

Saudi authorities have issued health guidelines advising pilgrims to use umbrellas for shade, stay hydrated, and rest regularly to avoid exhaustion during the rituals.

Efforts to mitigate the extreme heat include installing air coolers that spray water at various points along the pilgrimage route to help keep pilgrims cool and refreshed in challenging weather conditions.

The report also indicated the deaths of 14 Jordanian pilgrims due to heatstroke and five Iranian pilgrims in Mecca and Medina, although the exact causes of their deaths remain unclear.