Bus carrying pilgrims to Mecca crashes in Saudi Arabia

At least 20 people have been killed in Saudi Arabia when a bus overturned and caught fire, state broadcaster al-Ekhbariya reports.

The bus was carrying passengers to the holy city of Mecca, including pilgrims going to perform the Umrah, a minor Muslim pilgrimage, during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which began last week.

The accident occurred on Monday in the southwestern Asir province due to a problem with the brakes, leaving 29 people injured, the broadcaster reported.

Most of the passengers were residents of Saudi Arabia and of different nationalities, it added.