After a whole bunch of pilgrims died within the scorching desert warmth throughout the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, the Egyptian authorities introduced Saturday that it had suspended the licenses of 16 tour corporations that had facilitated journey for some pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
At the least 450 individuals have died throughout this 12 months’s pilgrimage, through which vacationers endured most temperatures that ranged from 108 levels to 120 levels Fahrenheit (42 to 49 levels Celsius). However the precise variety of fatalities is anticipated to climb as governments get extra correct tallies.
In saying the suspension of the 16 journey corporations, the Egyptian authorities stated the companies failed to supply the pilgrims essential companies like medical care. It stated the businesses didn’t present the pilgrims with “acceptable lodging,” which brought on them to undergo from “exhaustion because of the excessive temperatures.”
Reuters reported that some journey companies could not have formally registered for the pilgrimage, to get across the excessive prices of bundle excursions. And, Reuters stated, corporations have been being blamed for letting pilgrims journey to Saudi Arabia on private visas, somewhat than Hajj visas, which give entry to medical care and the holy websites.
Mahmoud Qassem, a member of Egypt’s Parliament, stated the journey corporations “left the pilgrims stranded and turned off their cellphones” so they may not hear the vacationers’ requires assist.
There have been additionally complaints that pilgrims weren’t given entry to sufficient cooling stations or water amid the extreme warmth.
The variety of unregistered guests — along with the warmth — might have left Saudi Arabia unprepared for coping with such a big inflow of individuals.
Tunisia’s authorities has stated that the demise toll of pilgrims from that nation was anticipated to rise from the 49 reported Friday, because the variety of individuals touring on vacationer visas turned extra clear.