Pinoy child killed in Saudi Arabia pilgrim bus crash — report

A Filipino child was reported killed along with an Egyptian woman, while 37 were injured after their bus collided with a truck in Saudi Arabia Thursday, a Saudi news site reported Friday.

The collision occurred early Thursday morning in Dhalam near Taif, Arab News quoted head department in Taif spokesman Siraj Al-Humaidan as saying.

No other details about the Filipino child were immediately available.

Citing initial information, the report said the bus was carrying pilgrims to Makkah so they can perform Umrah, a pilgrimage to Mecca at any time of the year.

Pilgrims of other nationalities including Pakistanis, Indians and Bangladeshis were also aboard the bus.

Al-Humaidan said nine of the injured were brought to hospitals in Taif for treatment while other cases were taken to Dhalam General Hospital.

The Arab News report noted seven Pakistanis died when a bus carrying 49 people collided with a truck on the Makkah-Madinah highway in February 2014. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News

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