An aerial view shows Muslim pilgrims circumambulating the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca (AFP)
The total number of deaths among Egyptians performing the hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has risen to 49, Egypt's health ministry said on Monday.
The head of Egypt's hajj medical commission, Ahmed El-Ansary, said that three Egyptian pilgrims died on Sunday evening.
El-Ansary attributed the number of deaths to fatigue and old age, according to state-run news agency MENA.
He said that most cases were caused by respiratory issues and cardiac arrest.
Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and other natural causes are a common occurrence among pilgrims on the hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Last year, 43 Egyptians died of natural causes during the pilgrimage.
Saudi authorities say more than two million Muslims are expected to participate in this year's hajj.
The five-day pilgrimage started on Wednesday and will conclude on Monday.
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