Five Hajj Pilgrims from West Nusa Tenggara Pass Away in Saudi Arabia

Five Hajj pilgrims from the Lombok embarkation point in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) have passed away while performing rituals in Saudi Arabia, according to confirmed reports from relevant authorities on Thursday (28 May). Lalu Muhamad Amin, head of the NTB Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), verified the tragedy, stating that three female and two male pilgrims succumbed.

The deceased hailed from Sumbawa Barat, East Lombok, and Central Lombok regencies. Amin noted all fatalities occurred prior to the core Hajj rituals in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna).

Medical evaluations cited advanced age, comorbidities, and extreme fatigue due Saudi Arabia’s high temperatures as key contributing factors. ‘Several pilgrims with deteriorating conditions likely experienced excessive fatigue, leading to health decline and death,’ Amin said, adding he previously served as head of the Hajj and Umrah section at NTB’s Ministry of Religion (Kemenag).

Despite the deaths, Amin assured that pilgrims from cohorts 1 to 15 post peak Hajj are generally healthy. Health teams remain vigilant in monitoring those experiencing physical decline. ‘During the stoning ritual, some pilgrims showed reduced functionality or extreme fatigue. Decline often occurs after returning to hotels, causing physical exhaustion,’ he concluded.