6 Ghanaian Pilgrims Die From Tragic Heatwave In Mecca

Six Ghanaian nationals have tragically lost their lives in Mecca due to a severe heat wave sweeping through Saudi Arabia, bringing the total death toll among Ghanaian pilgrims to eight. The deaths occurred as temperatures soared above 41 degrees Celsius, affecting pilgrims staying in Madina as part of their religious journey.

Abdul Rahman Alhassan Gomba, Spokesperson for the Hajj Board, confirmed the fatalities during an interview on Citi FM. He highlighted the extreme conditions faced by the pilgrims and the measures taken by Saudi authorities to mitigate the impact of the heat wave. Pilgrims were instructed to remain within their tents during peak heat hours, between noon and 4 p.m. local time.

Initially, reports indicated that Georgian pilgrims had succumbed to the heat. However, it was later revealed that Ghanaian nationals were also among those who died. According to Sky News, the overall death toll during the Hajj pilgrimage has now exceeded 1,000.

“The temperature was so high—above 41 degrees Celsius,” Gomba stated. “They asked the authorities to confine us to our camps between noon and 4 p.m. Saudi time. Later, we heard that some Georgians lost their lives in town. At the time, we didn’t even know that some Ghanaians were also going to lose their lives under the conditions said to be related to the heat waves that swept across Saudi Arabia on the day.”

Gomba mentioned that initial reports suggested 13 Ghanaian nationals had died, but this number was later clarified to six after fingerprint verification at the morgue. The fatalities involved individuals suspected of travelling with non-Hajj visas, complicating identification efforts.

“The forensic centre at the morgue, where the corpses are kept before being buried, had only managed to get six nationals from Ghana. When I asked him how they were doing it, they told me they were using fingerprints, and it was a laborious task,” Gomba explained. He concluded, “So, it will take days before the number of Ghanaians who died as a result of the heat wave will be established. Currently, we can say six people died during the heat wave, even though an autopsy report is not yet out regarding the subject.”

Source: GhanaFeed.Com