According to reports from local media, a bus carrying pilgrims en route to Mecca for the Umrah pilgrimage caught fire, resulting in the death of 20 individuals and injury of 29 others on Monday. Unnamed sources cited by Al Arabiya suggest that the number of fatalities could rise further. The group of pilgrims affected by the bus crash included individuals from Saudi Arabia as well as people from various other countries who were residing in Saudi Arabia. Footage being circulated on the internet depicts civil defense personnel attempting to retrieve the severely damaged bus from a precarious position on the side of a mountain road.
According to reports, the tragic incident occurred on the Aqabat Shaar road, which spans 14 kilometers and is located in the Asir governorate. The bus was en route from Khamis Mushait to Abha when the driver reportedly lost control due to brake failure. This resulted in the bus colliding with a barrier at the end of a bridge, flipping over, and catching fire, leading to the devastating outcome.
In order to facilitate the work of the civil defense and Red Crescent teams, all routes that lead to Aqabat Shaar were closed off. The wounded pilgrims were promptly taken to medical facilities to receive the necessary medical attention.
The timing of the accident is especially distressing as it occurred during the holy month of Ramadan, which typically sees a significant number of Muslims from around the world traveling to Mecca to perform Umrah.
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