Six Indonesian Pilgrims Die in Tragic Bus Crash in Wadi Qudaid, Saudi Arabia

SEAToday.com, Jakarta - A bus carrying Umrah pilgrims from Indonesia was in an accident in the Wadi Qudeid area, Saudi Arabia, Thursday (3/20) at 13:30 local time or around 17:00 WIB.

The bus accident occurred on the Madinah-Makkah crossing road, about 150 kilometers from Jeddah City.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia also stated that six Indonesian citizens died as a result of this bus accident.

“The total number of Indonesian Umrah pilgrims who were victims in the accident was 20 people, six of them died and the rest were injured,” said The Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens and Indonesian Legal Entities at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), Judha Nugraha through a written statement, Friday (3/21).

According to Antara, based on temporary information, the bus was involved in a collision incident that caused the bus to overturn and catch fire.

The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, explained that the bus carrying the pilgrims had collided with a jeep, causing it to overturn and catch fire. However, the details of the incident are still being investigated by the authorities in Saudi Arabia.

After the accident, the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah immediately sent the Indonesian citizen protection team to the location of the incident and coordinated with local authorities and related parties to ensure the condition of the victims.

Currently, the injured victims have received treatment at the Saudi Arabian Hospital. Meanwhile, other pilgrims are already in hotels in Mecca.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia has also informed the bus accident incident to the families in Indonesia. It also ensures that they will continue to assist the handling of the injured in Saudi Arabia.