Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 2, 2025
From the Liveblog of
Monday, June 2, 2025
Over 1 million pilgrims arrive in Mecca ahead of annual hajj
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Saudi policemen check vehicles entering the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, at Al-Shemesi check point, a vital entry point for pilgrims traveling to the city, June 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
More than a million Muslim pilgrims pour into the holy city of Mecca ahead of the annual hajj, with authorities vowing to hold a safer pilgrimage amid searing desert heat and a massive crackdown on illegal visitors.
Temperatures were forecast to exceed 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) this week as one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings officially commences on Wednesday.
The hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, must be performed at least once by all Muslims with the means.
This year, authorities have mobilized more than 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials, doubling their efforts to mitigate heat-related risks following a lethal heatwave in 2024 that left hundreds dead.
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