Fourteen Jordanians die during Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia | World News

At least 14 Jordanians have died and 17 are missing during the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, authorities have said.

Jordan is working with Saudi Arabia to arrange for burials and the transportation of relatives, according to the country’s foreign ministry.

It comes a day after a number of pilgrims were reported to have died from heat stroke, with temperatures soaring to 48C (118F) in the open.

Security forces and medics were deployed to help those who collapsed, while water was sprayed to try to help keep people cool.

Stampedes, tent fires, heat and other factors have caused hundreds of deaths at the event over the last 30 years.

All Muslims are required to make the Hajj once in their lives if they are physically and financially able to do so.

Many wealthy Muslims make the pilgrimage more than once.

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It is one of the largest mass gatherings in the world, with more than 1.8 million pilgrims expected to take part this year.

Most of the Hajj rituals are held outdoors with little if any shade.

This year’s five-day pilgrimage fell during Saudi’s scorching summer.

Many pilgrims carried umbrellas to protect them against the blistering sun.

It also came against the backdrop of the devastating Israel-Hamas war, which has pushed the Middle East to the brink of a regional conflict.

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip were not able to travel to Mecca this year because of the closure of the Rafah crossing in May when Israel extended its ground offensive to the city on the border with Egypt.