RABAT, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Moroccan authorities said Friday that 20 pilgrims from Morocco have died during this year's Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia.
The Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs said in a statement that those deaths are "natural deaths," noting that 15 percent of Moroccan pilgrims this year are over 80 years old.
"There were no 'unusual' deaths among Moroccan pilgrims during the current Hajj season," said the statement, adding that the figure is similar to last year's Hajj season.
Over the past 20 years, the annual number of deaths among Moroccan pilgrims has ranged between 30 and 45.
According to an estimate issued before the Hajj, 34,000 Moroccan pilgrims participated in this annual religious event.
