Number of Egyptian pilgrims dying of natural causes during hajj rise to nine

Egypt’s Health Ministry said Saturday that an Egyptian pilgrim died of natural causes during the annual hajj season in Saudi Arabia, raising the number of Egyptians who died of natural causes to nine, Al-Ahram Arabic website reported.

An 82-year-old man from Kafr El-Sheikh governorate died of acute circulatory failure while in hospital.

On Friday, two women in their sixties died of heart failure and circulatory failure.

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, which starts next week.

More than 1.4 million Muslims have so far arrived in the kingdom.

Around 80,000 Egyptian pilgrims are expected to perform the hajj this year, Egyptian officials said.

All Muslims who are able are required to complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

Source: Ahram online