20 Umrah pilgrims killed, 29 injured in Saudi bus crash

Baku, March 28, AZERTAC

At least 20 people were killed when the bus they were travelling in to perform Umrah in Makkah overturned on Monday.

According to Saudi media, the accident occurred around 4pm on the 14km-long Aqabat Shaar road in the Asir province, as the bus was travelling from Khamis Mushayt to Abha.

The road, according to Saudi Press Agency, cuts through mountains, and has 11 tunnels and 32 bridges. When the bus was making its way down a bridge it underwent a brake failure, which caused it to crash into a barrier at the end of the bridge, overturn and catch fire. About 29 other people were also injured in the accident, according to reports.