The death toll among Egyptian pilgrims during the Hajj pilgrimage has risen sharply to at least 600, with searing heat cited as the primary cause. This updated figure was provided by an Arab diplomat to AFP news agency on Wednesday, following earlier reports of 323 deathsearlier reports of 323 deaths. The temperatures in Mecca soared to a blistering 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit) on Monday earlier this week “All of the (newly confirmed) deaths were because of the heat as well,” the diplomat said to AFP, highlighting the severe conditions that contributed to the tragic fatalities. In response to the escalating crisis, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi ordered the formation of a task force to oversee the repatriation of the deceased Egyptian pilgrims and provide necessary support to their families. The task force, led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, will manage the situation regarding the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims during the Hajj 2024 season, according to a presidential statement released on Thursday. The president’s directives come amid reports of additional deaths and missing Egyptian pilgrims during the pilgrimage. The overall death toll from the Hajj 2024 season has exceeded 1,000,…
