The number of Egyptian pilgrims to arrive in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for the annual Hajj has now surpassed 72,000, according to the Minister of Higher Education and head of pilgrimage operations Hani Helal. Helal on Thursday told reporters in Mecca that 15,000 Egyptians that obtained their visas independently, as opposed to the state-sponsored voyage, have yet to arrive at the holy spots. Helal said King Abdullah's airport receives a new arrival every five minutes. Helal's personal entry procedures took four hours, he added. This year's pilgrims include a large number of elderly Egyptians prevented from making the Hajj last year due to swine flu fears. Egyptian pilgrim deaths has risen to eleven, after an 89-year-old who suffered from poor blood circulation died on Thursday. The majority of the deaths were the result of sudden seizures or chronic illnesses. Saudi authorities say 2010 has witnessed several problems as a result of the increased number of pilgrims, such as airport overcrowding and accomodation issues. Pilgrim totals have reached 470,000. Translated from the Arabic Edition.
