RIYADH: Thirty-five foreigners were killed and four others injured when a bus collided with another heavy vehicle near Madina on Wednesday.

The accident involved the collision of “a private chartered bus... with a heavy vehicle”, a police spokesman said.

Among the dead were an unspecified number of Pakistanis, according to the Foreign Office. It said four people had survived the bus crash, including one Pakistani.

“It has been reported that 35 passengers out of total 39 lost their lives,” the foreign ministry said in a statement.

“Initial reports indicate that the deceased also include a certain number of Pakistani nationals. Of the four survivors, there is one Pakistani, Mr. Akbar, who is seriously injured,” it added.

Saudi media carried pictures of the bus engulfed in flames and with its windows blown out.

The injured were transferred to Al Hamna Hospital.

The Okaz newspaper said that the victims were expatriates who worked in Saudi Arabia and were performing Umrah.

Prince Faisal bin Salman, the governor of Madina region, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims.

The nationalities of the other victims was not immediately known, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent his condolences.

“Anguished by the news of a bus crash near Makkah. Condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. Praying for a quick recovery of the injured,” he tweeted.

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2019