20 killed in bus crash in Saudi Arabia

After colliding with a bridge on Monday, a bus carrying pilgrims to Makkah burst into flames, killing 20 people and injuring more than two dozen others.

The incident in the southern province of Asir brings to light ongoing difficulties in bringing pilgrims to Makkah and Madina in a secure manner.

According to preliminary data we have just received, this accident resulted in 20 fatalities and a total of 29 injuries, according to the state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel.

Although it claimed the victims were of “different nationalities,” neither they nor a breakdown were mentioned.

The channel stated vaguely that the bus was experiencing “car trouble,” whereas the private newspaper Okaz claimed that the brakes were to blame for the accident.

The car “then struck a bridge, flipped over, and caught fire.”