Deputy Minister Notes Highest Hajj Pilgrim Mortality in East Java
The Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Wamenhaj), Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, has revealed that East Java is the province contributing the highest number of pilgrim deaths in Indonesia during the 2026 Hajj season.
Dahnil noted that 65 pilgrims from East Java passed away. This mortality rate is among the highest in Indonesia compared to other provinces.
“East Java is one of the regions with a high mortality rate; the death rate of its pilgrims is high. Today, it stands at 65 people. Although there has been a significant decrease compared to last year,” said Dahnil at the Sukolilo Hajj Dormitory in Surabaya on Friday (12/6).
He stated that the figure actually represents a significant decline from the previous year, which saw more than 100 deaths.
“Last year it was over 100, but this year it is 65 people, yet it remains relatively the highest contributor in Indonesia with 65 people,” he continued.
He explained that the majority of the deceased pilgrims had histories of underlying health conditions (comorbidities), ranging from respiratory issues to heart disease.
“The majority are cases of pneumonia, respiratory issues, blindness, and heart disease because they have comorbidities within their bodies. This remains a serious note for us to address,” he said.
Dahnil assessed that the age of pilgrims cannot be used as a sole benchmark for determining the cause of death or deciding an individual’s health eligibility for the Hajj pilgrimage.
“Age is debatable because it is not the sole measure. If you observe, we have 70-year-old farmers who are fit and healthy, while some 40 or 50-year-olds can sometimes be in the condition of a 70-year-old. Many are like that,” he remarked.
Responding to the high death toll, Dahnil emphasised that his office will tighten the implementation of health competency (istithaah) assessments for prospective pilgrims in the future.
According to him, health screenings within the country, particularly regarding comorbidities, will become the primary focus prior to departure.
“The note for East Java for the future is that we must tighten health competency,” he said.
“What we are encouraging is certainly domestic examinations. Domestic examinations will be much stricter, especially regarding comorbidities—specific diseases such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and so on,” he added.
In addition to tightening health screenings, Dahnil stated that his office is committed to continuously improving the quality of services for Indonesian pilgrims in the Holy Land.
“Equally important is how we can continue to improve our services. Therefore, our ongoing task is to continuously enhance service delivery,” he concluded.