According to the U.S. State Department, 11 American citizens died during this year's Hajj season, which experienced high temperatures, as reported by the "New York Times." The State Department mentioned that there may be more fatalities among American citizens who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage.
In conjunction with this, a girl from Maryland is seeking answers regarding the circumstances surrounding her parents' deaths and the tour operator to whom they paid tens of thousands of dollars for the pilgrimage. She noted that upon their arrival in Mecca, they informed her that the trip coordinator had confirmed that they were having difficulty obtaining official permits. She added that they were frustrated because they believed they were following the official procedures.
The extreme heat this year has caused tragedy for many pilgrims, as Saudi authorities announced that more than 1,300 individuals died while performing the rituals, indicating that the majority of the deceased were "unofficial pilgrims."
