On Monday, a bus carrying pilgrims to the holy city of Mecca caught fire after colliding on a bridge, resulting in the death of 20 individuals and leaving more than two dozen others injured.
According to Saudi state media, the incident occurred in the southern province of Asir and underscores the ongoing difficulties of safely transporting worshippers to Mecca and Medina, the most revered cities in Islam.
This tragedy took place during the initial week of Ramadan, a period that sees a significant surge in umrah pilgrimages, and just several months ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage, which is expected to draw millions of Muslims.
“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,” the state-affiliated Al-Ekhbariya channel reported.
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.”
A reporter could be seen in front of what appeared to be the bus’s burned-out shell in a clip that was broadcast 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. A bus crashed with another large vehicle in October 2019 near Medina, resulting in 35 foreigners dying and four others being hurt.
However, pilgrimages are a crucial part of the developing tourism industry, which Saudi authorities hope will help the country’s economy diversify and move away from fossil fuels.
