Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in Cairo Ahmed Al-Qattan announced the embassy is willing to facilitate entry visas for the families of those killed and injured in a Saturday bus crash in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
The bus was on its way to make pilgrimage in Mecca, known as umrah, when the crash occurred.
Nineteen Egyptians died and 25 others were injured in the accident, the foreign ministry announced in an official statement.
According to Egypt’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia, Nasser Hamdy, three of the dead were siblings: Aida, Samira, and Abdel Salam Gadallah. Most of the casualties were reportedly from Alexandria.
The bodies were transferred to Al-Miqat Hospital, said Hamdy. The reason for the bus accident is not yet clear.
President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi sent his condolences to the families of those killed and ordered the cabinet to provide needed support for those injured and provide for their medical treatment. Prime Minister Sherif Ismail ordered the ministries of foreign affairs and immigration to launch a specialised operation room to follow up on the needed paperwork for the families, following an earlier phone call with Hamdy.
