New Delhi, March 28: At least 20 people were killed after a bus carrying pilgrims overturned after hitting a bridge in southwestern Saudi Arabia and caught fire.
The incident took place on Monday in the southern province of Asir, bordering Yemen.
“According to the initial information we have now, the death toll in the accident has reached 20 and the total number of injured is around 29,” state-affiliated state channel Al-Akhbariya reported.
The victims include people from different countries.
Very sad
Horrific accident in #SaudiArabia
At least 20 people have been killed and about 30 others injured in a bus crash in Saudi Arabia.Dur to malfunction of the brake system the bus lost control and collided with a passenger car, and then rolled over and caught fire pic.twitter.com/ZpsA0Duf0M— Arthur Morgan (@ArthurM40330824) March 27, 2023
The channel said without elaborating that there was “something wrong” with the bus, while private newspaper Okaz said the accident was the result of a brake problem.
Transporting pilgrims around Saudi Arabia’s holy sites is a dangerous undertaking, especially during the month of Ramadan and the Hajj.
In 2016, around 19 people were killed and 22 others injured when a bus overturned on the highway connecting Madinah and Makkah.
In April 2018, four British pilgrims were killed and 12 others injured when their bus collided with a fuel tanker in Saudi Arabia.
In October 2019, around 35 foreigners were killed and four injured when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near Medina.