At least 20 dead in pilgrim bus crash in Saudi Arabia

A bus carrying pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, burst into flames after a collision on a bridge on Monday, killing at least 20 people and injuring around 30 others, according to Saudi state television.

The accident, which took place in the province of Asir, underlines the constant challenge of the safety of transporting pilgrims to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam.

It comes during the first week of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, when many Muslims perform the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) pilgrimage, and a few months before the annual hajj pilgrimage.

Transporting pilgrims on the roads of Saudi Arabia can be perilous, especially during the hajj, when endless traffic jams are created by buses full of worshippers.