20 pilgrims dead in bus crash en route to Saudi Arabia’s Mecca

At least 20 people were killed when a bus carrying pilgrims crashed in Saudi Arabia’s southern province of Asir on Monday. Another 29 pilgrims were injured and the death toll is expected to rise, according to the Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya news outlet.

According to local reports, the bus was full of passengers on their way to perform the Umrah pilgrimage in the Islamic holy city of Mecca when its brakes failed, causing it to collide into a barrier at a bridge and overturn before catching fire. The victims included Saudi nationals and various others.