Two Egyptian pilgrims killed in Saudi bus crash

Two Egyptian pilgrims were killed and 25 others injured when their bus crashed near the Saudi city of Al-Jumum, about 17 miles from Mecca, Egypt’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

The bus was carrying 47 Egyptian pilgrims travelling from Medina to Mecca when the crash occurred on Saturday evening. The ministry said 25 people sustained light to moderate injuries, including seven who were admitted to intensive care. The remaining pilgrims received treatment and were discharged from hospitals before being accommodated at their designated hotels in Mecca.

Saudi authorities had not immediately commented on the crash.

The crash comes during the Umrah season, a voluntary minor Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca that attracts millions of Muslims from around the world each year. The pilgrimage involves visiting the Kaaba to perform specific rituals of devotion and purification.

Egyptian authorities said they are in contact with Saudi officials to follow up on the condition of the injured. The victims have been identified as two Egyptian men. Their names were not immediately released.

The Egyptian Consulate in Jeddah said it is coordinating with Saudi authorities to facilitate the repatriation of the bodies.

The bus driver, believed to be a foreign national, was among the injured. The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The Saudi Transport Ministry has launched an investigation.

In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry expressed condolences to the families of the deceased and said it was monitoring the situation closely.

Road accidents are common in Saudi Arabia, where highways across the vast desert kingdom often see high-speed driving, particularly during peak travel seasons. More than 700,000 Egyptians visit Saudi Arabia annually for work or pilgrimage, with many travelling by road between holy cities.

SOURCE: AP