Filipina Hajj pilgrim dies from extreme heat in Makkah

MANILA – A 37-year-old Filipina pilgrim died from extreme heat during the annual Hajj in Saudi Arabia, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh said Thursday.

Philippine Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Rommel Romato confirmed that the Filipina passed away on June 16 "due to extreme weather conditions."

"Though medical attention was provided at a Makkah hospital, she did not survive," he told the Philippine News Agency.

The Filipina, who hailed from Western Mindanao, was an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) based in Saudi Arabia and was not part of the Hajj delegation organized by the National Commission on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF).

Romato said the Philippine Embassy and Consulate General hajj assistance teams, as well as the Migrant Workers Office in Jeddah coordinated her burial in Makkah on June 19.

Based on the data from the NCMF Hajj supervisory team, at least 5,060 Filipino pilgrims are participating in this year's Hajj, excluding roughly 200 NCMF support staff. (PNA)