Death toll among Egyptian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia rises to 85

Ahram Online , Monday 11 Sep 2017

Pilgrims
A file photo of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia (Photo:Reuters)

The death toll among Egyptians on the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia this year has climbed to 85, Egypt's health ministry announced on Monday.

An 85-year-old woman from Aswan died from cardiac arrest while in hospital in Medina, the deputy-head of Egypt's hajj medical commission Mohamed Shawky said, according to state-run news agency MENA.

Meanwhile, a 49-year-old woman from Menoufiya governorate passed away after suffering a heart attack. She also died while in hospital in Medina, said the health ministry.

Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and other natural causes are a common occurrence among pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia.

More than 100,000 Egyptian pilgrims performed the hajj this year, according to housing minister Mostafa Madbouly, who heads the Egyptian hajj delegation.

Saudi authorities said more than 2.3 million Muslims participated in this year's hajj.

All Muslims who are able to do so are requird by Islam to perform the hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, at least once in their lifetime.

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