In southwest Saudi Arabia, a bus carrying pilgrims crashed into a bridge, flipped, and caught fire, killing at least 20 persons.
The event happened on Monday in Yemen’s southern province of Asir. It occurs just months before millions of Muslims are anticipated to travel for the yearly Hajj journey, during the first week of Ramadan, a busy time for the Umrah pilgrimage.
The state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel stated: “According to preliminary information we have now received, the number of deaths in this accident reached 20, and the total number of injuries was approximately 29.”
Although it claimed the fatalities were of “different nationalities,” neither they nor a breakdown were mentioned.
While the private newspaper Okaz claimed the accident was caused by brake problems, the channel stated simply that the bus had “car trouble” without providing further details. The car “then struck a bridge, flipped over, and caught fire.”
On camera, a reporter could be seen in front of what looked to be the burned-out remains of the bus on Al Ekhbariya.
Transporting worshippers through the holy sites of Saudi Arabia is a dangerous job, especially during the Hajj when roads can be chaotic and buses can cause endless traffic jams.
On the highway connecting Medina and Mecca, a bus accident claimed the lives of 19 people and wounded 22 others in 2016.
When their bus collided with a fuel tanker in Saudi Arabia in April 2018, four British tourists perished and 12 others were hurt.
A bus crashed with another large vehicle in October 2019 near Medina, resulting in 35 foreigners dying and four others being hurt.
Source – Aljazeera
