At least 530 Egyptians have died during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca, and 31 are missing, Reuters reported, citing medical and security sources, BTA writes.
This year, the Saudi city of Mecca, which is the center of the Hajj, has been gripped by intense heat. In recent days, hundreds of people from various countries have died after temperatures in some places exceeded 51 degrees Celsius.
A medical source who accompanied the official Egyptian delegation for the pilgrimage said most of those who died were not officially registered for the event by Saudi authorities, meaning they did not have access to tented accommodation.
Another eyewitness told Reuters that thousands of pilgrims lay on the road exposed to the strong sun during the ascent of Mount Arafat, one of the main rites of the pilgrimage.
The fifth pillar of Islam, the Hajj, is obligatory once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it, and is the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity.
This year's event, which began last Friday, is believed to have attracted nearly 2 million pilgrims.
Climatologists say rising temperatures pose a growing threat to the event, although heat-related deaths during the Hajj are nothing new and have been recorded as far back as the 15th century.
Egyptian authorities have not confirmed the death toll.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Emigration said they were cooperating with Saudi authorities in the search for missing Egyptians and in following up on reports of casualties.