Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly is demanding that 16 travel companies have their licences revoked after arranging illegal trips to Mecca during the Muslim pilgrimage of Hajj.
According to the government's statement, those responsible at the companies may also face prosecution.
In total, over 1,100 deaths have been reported during this year's Hajj – many of them due to heatstroke. Figures suggest that Egyptians accounted for 658 deaths, of which 630 were unregistered pilgrims.
The Prime Minister is also demanding that fines be imposed on the travel companies and that the money should benefit the victims' relatives.
Officially, over 50,000 Egyptians are said to have participated in the pilgrimage.
The pilgrimage is one of Islam's five pillars, which form the foundation of the religion. All healthy Muslims who can afford it are expected to make the trip to Mecca in western Saudi Arabia at least once in their lifetime.
