*ISLAMABAD – Thirty-five foreigners were killed and four others injuredwhen a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near the Muslim holy city ofMadinah, Saudi state media said on Thursday.*
The accident on Wednesday involved a collision between “a private charteredbus… with a heavy vehicle (loader)” near the western Saudi Arabian city, aspokesman for Medina police said, according to the official Saudi PressAgency.
Those involved were Arab and Asian pilgrims, according to local media, whocarried pictures of the bus engulfed in flames and with its windows blownout.
The injured have been transferred to Al-Hamna Hospital, SPA added, andauthorities have launched an investigation.
The accident comes after four British pilgrims were killed and 12 othersinjured in Saudi Arabia when their bus collided with a fuel tanker in April2018. They were on their way to the holy city of Mecca.
In January 2017, six Britons, including a two-month-old baby, were killedin a minibus on their way to Medina after making a pilgrimage to Mecca.
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As part of efforts to diversify its oil-dependent economy, theultra-conservative kingdom wants to foster a year-round religious tourismsector that includes millions of pilgrims.
Up until last month, the country only issued visas to Muslim pilgrims,foreign workers and recently to spectators at sporting or cultural events,but tourists are now allowed to visit as part of the drive to prepare thebiggest Arab economy for a post-oil era.
In September 2015, a stampede killed up to 2,300 worshippers — includinghundreds of Iranians — in the worst disaster ever to strike the Hajj annualpilgrimage.
Earlier that month, 100 people were killed when a construction cranetoppled into a courtyard of Mecca’s Grand Mosque. -APP/AFP
