Bus carrying pilgrims crashes in Saudi Arabia's Asir region, 20 killed

At least 20 people were killed around 4:00 pm on Monday and 29 more injured after a bus carrying pilgrims collided with a barrier at the end of a bridge, overturned, and caught fire in Saudi Arabia's southwestern region.

The incident in the southern province of Asir, bordering Yemen, comes during the holy month of Ramadan, a busy time for the Umrah pilgrimage, and just months before scores of Muslims will make the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

Although the state-affiliated Al Ekhbariya channel reported that the victims had "different nationalities", it did not mention them or provide a breakdown. Footage broadcast on the channel showed what appeared to be the burned-out shell of the bus.

While the private newspaper Okaz said an issue with the brakes prompted the accident, Al Ekhbariya reported the vehicle had "car trouble". The bus had departed Khamis Mushayt and was heading to Abha.

Monday's accident occurred in Aqabat Shaar, a 14 km road that was opened more than four decades back. According to the Saudi Press Agency, its construction involved 11 tunnels, 32 bridges, and cutting through mountains.

Transporting pilgrims around the holy sites in Saudi Arabia is nothing less than a perilous task, especially during the Hajj, when roads aren't devoid of chaos with buses creating never-ending traffic jams.

While 19 people were killed in 2016 when a bus overturned on a highway connecting Medina and Mecca, four British pilgrims and 35 foreigners were killed in separate incidents in 2018 and 2019, respectively, in accidents involving their buses colliding with other heavy vehicles.

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