Analysis of the 2024 Hajj heat event and future temperature extremes in Mecca
Abstract Extreme heat events in the Middle East have become increasingly frequent and intense due to human-driven climate change. During the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, in June 2024, temperatures soared to a record-breaking 51.8 °C, resulting in the tragic deaths of at least 1300 pilgrims and over 2700 non-fatal injuries. Our analysis of future projections, tailored for the region, indicates that in a warmer climate, such hazards may become a regular occurrence. Addressing these challenges through effective climate mitigation and adaptation is essential to building resilience against future extreme heat risks.
Authors
- Georgiy Stenchikov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9033-4925)
- Tommaso Alberti
- George Zittis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6839-5622)
- Panos Hadjinicolaou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1170-2182)
- Jos Lelieveld (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6307-3846)
- Rashyd Zaaboul (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9834-2612)
- Sergey Osipov (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8811-5501)
- M. Levent Kurnaz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3050-9847)
- Georgia Lazoglou (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6551-5003)
- Meryem Tanarhte (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7347-2146)
- Grigory Nikulin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4226-8713)
- Mansour Almazroui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3962-4588)
- Fatima Driouech (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0830-1831)
- Tuğba Öztürk (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8598-8596)
- Diana Francis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7587-0006)
- Davide Faranda (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5001-5698)
Institutions
- Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SE)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Cyprus Institute (CY)
- Işık University (TR)
- Khalifa University of Science and Technology (AE)
- King Abdulaziz University (SA)
- Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (FR)
- Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (FR)
- Université Paris-Saclay (FR)
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (IT)
- École Normale Supérieure - PSL (FR)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique (FR)
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry (DE)
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (FR)
- CEA Paris-Saclay (FR)
- London Mathematical Laboratory (GB)
- Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (MA)
- International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (AE)
- Université Hassan II Mohammedia (MA)
- Boğaziçi University (TR)
- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (SA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj natural hazards.
- Published
- 2025-12-20
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00159-3
- Primary Topic
- Travel-related health issues
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- European Commission