The Number Of Indonesian Congregants Who Died Continues To Increase During The Hajj Peak Procession

Illustration of the bodies of the pilgrims (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - The number of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who died continues to increase while carrying out the pilgrimage procession for three days in Mina. As of 13 Zulhijjah or Saturday, July 1, 50 people have died.

"So in total up to today, during the Mina period, there were 50 people who died," said the Head of the Mina Task Force Health Section, Dr. Thafsin Alfarizi, in Mecca, quoting Antara.

Thafsin explained that the majority of the hajj participants who died were elderly with the main causes of heart disease or cardiogenic stop, respiratory disorders, and heat stroke.

For details, he said, there were 27 people in the maktab or tents, then 17 people died at the Saudi Arabian Hospital (RSAS) around Mina. In addition, there were four people at the Mina Health Post (Poskes), and two people died on the way.

"The largest number of pilgrims who died was heart disease. This is a disease that caused our pilgrims to die during the period in Mina," he said.

According to Thafsin, so that cases like this do not recur in the coming years, pilgrims who are physically unable to do so should be banned.

"It is better for the congregation to rest, so that their disease condition does not worsen," said Thafsin.

Meanwhile, ahead of the closing of the Mina Health Post (Plskes) following the end of the series of pilgrimages, his party plans to move the patients being treated to the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI) in Mecca.

"Congregations who are stable and in slightly improved condition will be evacuated to KKHI in Mecca or we will return them to their group which is currently in Mecca," he said.

Thafsin said that currently the number of Indonesian pilgrims being treated at the Mina Health Post is 21 patients, while RSAS is 56 people, bringing a total of 77 pilgrims who are still being treated.

"Tomorrow afternoon we will start moving to Mecca," he said. To evacuate the patients, his party will utilize the ambulance facilities owned by the Mina Health Post, the Mecca KKHI, and so on. In total there are about 20 ambulances.

Thafsin said that overall since the establishment of the Mina Health Post, the number of registered services has reached nearly 500 people, while the number of patient visits both those who were observed and those who were referred to RSAS in the Mina area reached 350 people.

"The peak of patients was after 10 Zulhijjah, the congregation moved from Muzdalifah to shift to Mina, around midnight, there were lots of them after that, starting from there," he said.