At least 14 Hajj pilgrims dead in extreme heat

The Directorate of Operations and Consular Affairs at the Jordanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced 14 Jordanian pilgrims have died from extreme heat in Saudi Arabia.

According to Jordan News Agency (PETRA), the Head of the Directorate of Operations and Consular Affairs, Ambassador Sufian Qudah, stressed that the ministry is following up with the relevant Saudi authorities on the procedures for burying pilgrims and transporting the bodies of those whose families wish to have them transferred home.

In addition, they're following up on the search for 17 other missing pilgrims.

Qudah said the deceased and missing pilgrims are not part of the official Jordanian Haj delegation. 

It's believed temperatures soared past 40 degrees Celsius during the annual pilgrimage that around 1.8 million Muslims are taking part in this year.