The death toll among Egyptian pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 18, a statement by Egypt’s health ministry said on Saturday.

Health ministry spokesman Khaled Megahed said that a 62-year-old pilgrim from Upper Egypt has passed away in Mecca due to hypotensive shock.

Around 2 million Muslim pilgrims are preparing to travel to Mecca for the annual Islamic hajj on Sunday.

Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and natural causes are a common occurrence among pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia, which takes place this year from 19 to 24 August.

Around 80,000 Egyptians are expected to go on hajj this year, Egyptian officials have said.