More than 1,000 people have been reported killed during the Hajj pilgrimage to the city of Mecca.
That’s an increase of about 500 from yesterday, according to Associated Press figures.
In the Saudi Arabian city, Islam’s holiest city, temperatures reached at least 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit) in the shade.
The new figures include 58 more Egyptians, bringing the number of Egyptian pilgrims who have died during Hajj to 658.
Image: Muslim pilgrims use umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun. Photo: AP
Of those, 630 were in the Kingdom illegally, which distributes pilgrimage visas by country under a quota system.
The Egyptian government announced on Thursday the setting up of a crisis response unit to investigate and said 28 deaths had been confirmed out of 50,752 officially registered Egyptian pilgrims.
The number of unregistered pilgrim deaths has not been disclosed.
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Follow Sky News for the latest UK and world news
Tap here
A total of 1,081 deaths have been reported in 10 countries during the annual pilgrimage, one of Islam’s five major commandments.
The figures come from official statements and diplomats responding from various countries.
Pilgrims are using umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun, and Saudi authorities have warned them to stay hydrated and to avoid being outdoors during the hottest hours, between 11am and 3pm.
Hundreds of people have died during the Hajj in the past three decades in stampedes, tent fires and other accidents. About 240 people were reported killed last year.
Image: A man uses a colorful umbrella to protect himself from the sun in Athens. Photo: AP
High temperatures on four continents
Saudi Arabia isn’t the only country experiencing a heatwave: Extremely high temperatures are affecting cities on four continents.
Mediterranean countries are experiencing extreme heat, with forest fires burning in Portugal and Greece and fires burning on the north coast of Africa in Algeria, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Earth Observatory.
Image: A woman cools off in the Fontana Barcaccia at the Spanish Steps in Rome. Photo: Reuters
In Serbia, meteorologists expect temperatures to reach around 40°C (104°F) this week as winds from North Africa push a hot front into the Balkans.
Belgrade’s emergency services said doctors were called out 109 times overnight to treat patients with chronic illnesses, including heart problems.
Pictured: Two brothers in Washington, DC. Photo: Reuters
The first cooling center in the United States will open in New York City this year.
Temperatures in parts of Arizona, including Phoenix, are expected to reach 45.5°C (114°F) on Thursday.
read more:
Katie Archibald misses match after garden accident
Two arrested for ‘running an illegal £1bn cryptocurrency exchange’
In India, New Delhi recorded its warmest night in at least 55 years on Wednesday, with the Safdarjung Observatory saying the temperature reached 35.2 degrees Celsius (95.4 degrees Fahrenheit) at 1 a.m.
According to the European Union’s climate change monitoring service, the past 12 consecutive months have been the warmest on record when compared year-on-year.
