Dozens injured within the accident that occurred within the southern province of Asir.
At the least 20 individuals have been killed after a bus carrying pilgrims hit a bridge, overturned and burst into flames in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred on Monday within the southern province of Asir, bordering Yemen. It comes throughout the first week of Ramadan, a busy time for the Umrah pilgrimage, and simply months earlier than tens of millions of Muslims are anticipated to make the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
“In accordance with preliminary info we have now now acquired, the variety of deaths on this accident reached 20, and the whole variety of accidents was roughly 29,” the state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel reported.
It mentioned the victims had “totally different nationalities” however didn’t point out them or present a breakdown.
The channel mentioned the bus had “automobile hassle”, with out specifying, whereas the personal newspaper Okaz mentioned the accident resulted from a difficulty with the brakes. The automobile “then collided with a bridge, overturned and caught hearth”.
Footage broadcast on Al Ekhbariya confirmed a reporter standing in entrance of what seemed to be the burned-out shell of the bus.
Transporting worshippers round Saudi Arabia’s holy websites is a dangerous job, significantly throughout the Hajj, when roads will be chaotic with buses creating interminable site visitors jams.
In 2016, some 19 individuals have been killed when a bus overturned on a freeway linking Medina and Mecca, whereas 22 others have been injured.
4 British pilgrims have been killed and 12 others injured in Saudi Arabia when their bus collided with a gasoline tanker in April 2018.
In October 2019, some 35 foreigners have been killed and 4 others injured when a bus collided with one other heavy automobile close to Medina.
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