Egypt's health ministry said on Thursday that an Egyptian pilgrim has died of natural causes while performing the Hajj in Saudi Arabia, raising the number of Egyptians who died of natural causes this pilgrimage season to 14, state-run news agency MENA reported. The 80-year-old man from Cairo died of pneumonia at Al-Nour Hospital in Mecca, said the head of the Hajj medical mission Ahmed El-Ansari. Deaths from heat exhaustion, fatigue and other natural causes are not uncommon among pilgrims performing the Hajj. Last year, 43 Egyptians died of natural causes during the Hajj. Around 80,000 Egyptian pilgrims are performing the Hajj this year, according to Egyptian officials. All Muslims are required to complete the pilgrimage to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they are able. Around two million Muslims from around the world started gathering on Thursday at Mount Arafat to perform the seasonal pilgrimage.
