17 RI haj pilgrims die, 114 hospitalized

17 RI haj pilgrims die, 114 hospitalized

JAKARTA (JP): A total of 17 Indonesian haj pilgrims have died
and some 114 have been hospitalized, an official stated on
Monday.

The spokesman for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Hasbu
Marzuki, said most of the deaths were the result of heart
attacks.

"They (the deceased) are mostly over 55 years of age and
already had health problems. The rest of them died of respiratory
infections," he told The Jakarta Post by telephone.

Antara news agency reported on Monday that of the 17 pilgrims
who died in Saudi Arabia, two were natives of North Sumatra.

The news agency also said about 85 percent of the Indonesians
in Saudi hospitals came from North Sumatra, and were suffering
from ailments ranging from high blood pressure and diabetes to
ulcers.

Hasbu, however, said most of the patients complained of heart
trouble and respiratory infections.

Out of 114 Indonesians who have been hospitalized, 35 are
being treated in Medina and the rest in Mecca.

"In Medina, 24 people are being treated at the Indonesian Haj
Medical Center while the others are being treated in local
hospitals. In Mecca, 61 are being treated at the center and 18 in
local hospitals," Hasbu said.

Extreme heat combined with fatigue are blamed for most of the
health problems, he said, noting that the haj involves a great
deal of physical activity.

"The number of deaths usually peaks at the ritual in the
Arafah desert," he said.

About 205,000 Indonesians will travel to Saudi Arabia to
perform the haj. They have been divided into 487 groups and are
leaving from eight embarkation points.

The cost of this year's pilgrimage has been set at between Rp
19 million (US$2,000) and Rp 23 million ($2,421), an increase
from last year's Rp 17.76 million. (hdn)