This area of the planet is moving toward being uninhabitable.
Don’t think for a minute that will not affect you.
UPDATE: Guardian: Number now up to 1300.
At least 1,300 people have died during the hajj pilgrimage, which took place during intense heat, Saudi Arabia has said, adding that most of the deceased did not have official permits.
“Regrettably, the number of mortalities reached 1,301, with 83% being unauthorised to perform hajj and having walked long distances under direct sunlight, without adequate shelter or comfort,” the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
A tally last week, compiled by Agence France-Presse and based on official statements from diplomats, put the toll at more than 1,100. Arab diplomats told AFP that Egyptians accounted for 658 deaths, 630 of them unregistered pilgrims.
Riyadh had not publicly commented on the deaths or provided its own toll until Sunday. On Friday, however, a senior Saudi official gave a toll of 577 deaths for the two busiest days of hajj: 15 June, when pilgrims gathered for hours of prayers in the blazing sun on Mount Arafat; and 16 June, when they participated in the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina.
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We can talk about the continuing death toll from Religion itself some other time.
Sweet Ceiling Cat, just a few clouds, is that too much to ask of the almighty?
Mecca is in a petrostate that has made quadrillions of dollars off of oil. Saudi Arabia has enjoyed the prestige of hosting the Hajj until now.
Interesting that you felt obliged and/or comfortable to throw in the last line.
Rough calculations suggest that this death rate is about double the average whole of life death rate over the period involved. While weather conditions are obviously relevant, the majority of deaths are liable to be from people who were far more likely to die for whatever reason.
Haj about 6 days =~ 1/60 year.
Assume life expectancy 70 years.
Expected natural death rate over 6 days ~~= 1/70 x 6/365 ~=1/4200
Haj attendees about 2 million.
Expected natural deaths over 6 days
= 2 million x 1/4200 =~ 480
ie Not unexpected.
Note that a large minority of people dying are reported to be unofficial attendees travelling across desert terrain outside the event’s formal support system. ie they made a choice to do it dangerously. Some died. This was their choice and not a great surprise.
FWIW I have lived my life often closer to the risk boundary than many. I’m 73 and have managed to “get it right: so far. My wife is astounded :-).