Authorities in Saudi Arabia say 35 pilgrims have been killed in a bus crash near the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Four others were injured in the crash, the state-run Saudi Press Agency reported on Thursday.

The agency, quoting police in Saudi Arabia's Medina province, said the crash happened around 7pm local time on Wednesday on the road linking Mecca to the city of Medina.

It said the chartered bus carried Asian and Arab nationals, without elaborating.

Police were investigating the incident, but authorities have given no immediate cause for the crash.

Every able-bodied Muslim is required to perform the hajj, or Islam's religious pilgrimage, to Mecca.

Source: 7news

BDST: 1027 HRS, OCT 17, 2019

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