Cairo –
The number of Egyptians killed during the Hajj, the annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, amid extreme heat, has risen to 672, while another 25 are missing, security and medical sources said on Sunday.
A crisis unit tasked with investigating the situation said in a statement on Saturday that it has suspended the licenses of 16 tourism businesses and referred them to the public prosecutor, accusing them of being responsible for deaths it says mainly among pilgrims who were not registered under the official system.
The unit, which was established on Thursday and is led by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, said 31 deaths have been confirmed from chronic diseases among officially registered pilgrims.
