Extreme heat takes deadly toll on Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

The annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has been overshadowed by a tragic loss of life, as the number of pilgrims who have died during the sacred journey has surpassed 1,000, Report informs via Agence France-Press.

Earlier reports had indicated that 600 pilgrims had succumbed during the pilgrimage, with the majority of deaths attributed to the extreme heat that has engulfed the region. Temperatures in Mecca, the holiest city in Islam and the focal point of the Hajj, have soared to a blistering 52 degrees Celsius (125.6 degrees Fahrenheit) during this year's pilgrimage.