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)