24 Muslim pilgrims, from Egypt, Syria, Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan, died yesterday in a bus accident near Saudi Arabia's border with the United Arab Emirates.
24 other pilgrims were injured in the accident that took place Friday morning, when the two buses, carrying dozens of Muslims who took part in this year's Islamic hajj pilgrimage, collided head on, four miles from the al-Bathaa border crossing with the Emirates in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Poor visibility is believed to have caused the accident.
The two buses were owned by a UAE-based transporting company.
The death toll is expected to rise.
The five-day Hajj rituals ended on Jan. 2. Most pilgrims return to their countries after finishing the holy journey, but some remain in the Kingdom for days afterward for tourism or business.
This year’s Hajj drew three million Muslims from all over the world.
--AJP and Agencies
24 other pilgrims were injured in the accident that took place Friday morning, when the two buses, carrying dozens of Muslims who took part in this year's Islamic hajj pilgrimage, collided head on, four miles from the al-Bathaa border crossing with the Emirates in eastern Saudi Arabia.
Poor visibility is believed to have caused the accident.
The two buses were owned by a UAE-based transporting company.
The death toll is expected to rise.
The five-day Hajj rituals ended on Jan. 2. Most pilgrims return to their countries after finishing the holy journey, but some remain in the Kingdom for days afterward for tourism or business.
This year’s Hajj drew three million Muslims from all over the world.
--AJP and Agencies