20 Umrah pilgrims killed and 29 others injured in a bus crash in southwestern Saudi Arabia

At least 20 Umrah pilgrims were killed and 29 others injured in a bus crash in southwestern Saudi Arabia.

As reported, a bus ferrying pilgrims to the holy city of Makkah burst into flames after a collision on a bridge, on Monday.

According to Saudi media, the accident occurred around 4 pm on the 14 km-long Aqabat Shaar road in the Asir province, as the bus was travelling from Khamis Mushayt to Abha.

The bus was making its way down a bridge through the mountains when it experienced a brake failure, causing it to crash into a barrier at the end of the bridge, overturn, and catch fire, the report added.

While the pilgrims included Saudi nationals and residents of different nationalities.

The crash was a result of the vehicle’s brakes failing in the southwestern province of Asir, which shares a border with Yemen.

 

The Saudi civil defence and Red Crescent Authority teams rushed to the site of the accident and cordoned off the area.

The injured were transported to nearby medical facilities for medical attention.

The bus crash comes during the holy month, which sees an influx of Muslims making the journey to Mecca to perform Umrah during Ramadan.