The number of fatalities due to extreme heat during the haj pilgrimage increased on Tuesday, with Jordan and Tunisia announcing additional deaths as temperatures reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) in Makkah. By Tuesday evening, the total death count for this year reached 235, slightly lower than the over 240 deaths reported last year. Most nations have not detailed the number of heat-related deaths. The annual pilgrimage, known as one of the world's largest religious gatherings, once again took place during the scorching Saudi summer. Saudi authorities have treated over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not disclosed any death figures. Jordan, which previously reported 14 sunstroke deaths, now states that 41 permits for burial of deceased pilgrims in Makkah have been issued. The official Petra news agency reported that an unspecified number of Jordanian pilgrims are missing, and efforts are underway to locate and repatriate them. Tunisia's foreign ministry reported 35 deaths among hajj pilgrims due to a significant increase in temperatures in Saudi Arabia. Neither Jordan nor Tunisia specified how many of these deaths were directly due to heat. Egypt's foreign ministry announced collaboration with Saudi authorities to search for missing Egyptians during the haj, without specifying the number of deaths. Earlier, Indonesia reported 132 deaths among haj pilgrims, with three attributed to heatstroke, and heat was cited as a major factor in 13 deaths among Iraqi Kurdistan pilgrims. Senegal and Iran also reported deaths without specifying causes. The haj, one of Islam's five pillars, is mandatory for all able Muslims at least once. A recent Saudi study highlighted the increasing impact of climate change on the pilgrimage, noting a temperature rise of 0.4C per decade in the ritual areas. This year, around 1.8 million pilgrims participated, with 1.6 million from overseas, according to Saudi authorities.