What's behind deaths at this year's Hajjpilgrimage in Saudi Arabia? | BBC News

Hundreds of people are thought to have died duringthe Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia - most of them dueto extreme heat as temperatures soared past 51degrees Celsius.

AFP news agency quoted an Arab diplomat as saying658 Egyptians had died. Indonesia said that more than200 of its nationals had died. India said 98 people were known to have died.

Pakistan, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia,Sidan and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region havealso confirmed deaths. The US believes a number ofAmericans died, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Hajj is the annual pilgrimage made by Muslims to the holy city of Mecca.

All Muslims who are financially and physically ablemust complete the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime.

About 1.8 million people have taken part this year,Saudi Arabia says.