A car in the first overland convoy of Iraqi pilgrims returning from Hajj in Saudi Arabia was involved in a traffic accident on the outskirts of Ramadi Saturday morning. Four people were killed and one injured, most of whom are believed to be from the Kurdistan region.

"This afternoon, Al-Ramadi al-Taalimi Hospital received five individuals involved in a car accident," Media Director of Anbar Health's department told The New Region. "The vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser with Sulaymaniyah license plates, was carrying the pilgrims when it crashed."

"Four of the passengers were pronounced dead upon arrival, while one, identified as Tania, is in a critical condition and was immediately placed in intensive care," he added.

"The accident occurred on the highway near Bu Risha petrol station, close to Ramadi. According to the traffic report, the driver lost control of the vehicle after falling asleep at the wheel."

"The deceased have been transferred to the forensic department," he continued. "Tania is receiving all necessary medical care in the recovery room at Al-Ramadi Teaching Hospital. The hospital staff is providing her with the required attention and treatment," he concluded.

UPDATE: Another #pilgrim from the #Ramadi accident has died, raising the death toll to four people, with the fifth person being in critical condition, the Director of #Anbar Health’s media director confirmed to The New Region on Saturday.#TheNewRegion pic.twitter.com/jDgJWNWo0Q

— The New Region (@thenewregion) June 22, 2024

In another incident in Saudi Arabia, three individuals from Iraq went missing, only to be later found dead. "After several days' search, the bodies of three Kurdish pilgrims, two women and one man, were found in Saudi Arabia," spokesperson for the KRG General Directorate of Hajj and Umrah Karwan Stuni told The New Region on Friday.

This year's Hajj pilgrimage has witnessed a tragic number of deaths, including 13 pilgrims from Iraqi Kurdistan, as reported by various national authorities and diplomats to Agence France-Presse (AFP). 

Over half of the victims lacked official pilgrimage permits. The extreme heat is the main factor in the deaths.

An unnamed Arab diplomat highlighted that the total death toll includes a large number of unauthorized pilgrims, with the official figure at 1,081. Among these, 13 were from Iraqi Kurdistan.

The number of pilgrims this year is around 1.8 million, with 63% coming from non-Arab Asian countries, while only 22% are Arab pilgrims, Saudi General Authority for Statistics announced last Saturday.

The Iraqi General Consulate in Jeddah issued a statement expressing condolences to the families of Iraqi pilgrims who died during Hajj. 

"The consulate has been active since the Hajj season began, assisting with official procedures to expedite death certificates and repatriate the deceased. Due to extreme heat, many elderly pilgrims passed away, leading Saudi authorities to temporarily bury the deceased."

The consulate is coordinating with Saudi authorities to ensure the bodies are returned to Iraq post-Hajj.