Three Indonesian pilgrims die

MEDINA, Saudi Arabia: An Indonesian pilgrim, Suanah binti Kromo, died of a heart attack in her dormitory here on Thursday, Antara reported.

The 54-year-old woman from the Central Java town of Kendal is the third Indonesian to have died in Saudi Arabia since the first batch of Indonesian pilgrims arrived on Sunday.

On Tuesday, Siti Aisiah binti Salamrowe, 40, died upon arrival at King Abdul Azis airport. Her death was followed by that of Wakiah binti Sukardi, 57. The news agency did not say when Wakiah died.

Suanah's death came after she arrived back from a trip to Jabal Uhud hill, and the Taim and Kubah mosques.

As of 4 a.m. on Friday, 28,165 Indonesian pilgrims had arrived in Medina, the last stop before they perform the pilgrimage in Mecca beginning on Jan. 30.

More than 180,000 Indonesians have registered to join this year's haj.

Health minister Achmad Sujudi has urged the pilgrims to look after their health now that Saudi Arabia was entering winter, when the temperature ranged between 5 degrees and 25 degrees Celcius. -- Antara