TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Over a dozen pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia as the bus they were traveling in overturned on the road between the cities of Ta’if and Riyadh.





At least 36 pilgrims were also injured in the incident which occurred on Saturday, according to the Arabic language Sabq website, Press TV reported.

All of the casualties, among them women and children, are reportedly Egyptian and Sudanese nationals.



On Friday, 18 pilgrims were injured near the Masjid al-Haram (Grand Mosque) in Mecca, which contains Islam's holiest site, the Ka'aba, as Muslims gathered in large numbers to mark the Laylat al-Qadr (the Night of Destiny), one of the high points of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

The incident came just over 9 months after a deadly crush claimed the lives of hundreds of pilgrims during last year's Hajj.

The crush occurred after two large masses of pilgrims converged at a crossroads in Mina during the symbolic ceremony of the stoning of Satan in Jamarat on September 24, 2015.



Saudi Arabia claims nearly 770 people were killed in the incident, but Iranian officials say about 4,700 people, including more than 460 Iranians, lost their lives in the tragedy. According to figures from foreign officials, more than 2,200 pilgrims died in the incident.

By Tasnim News Agency