A bus has overturned on a highway in Saudi Arabia, resulting in 44 people sustaining injuries, as reported by local media. The incident occurred on a road connecting the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to Taif in western Saudi Arabia. Emergency response teams, including 16 medical teams from the Saudi Red Crescent and others from the Health Ministry, swiftly responded to the scene and transported the injured individuals to hospitals.
The cause of the crash and the nature of the injuries are not immediately clear. In recent months, Saudi Arabia has witnessed several road accidents, prompting authorities to implement stricter penalties for traffic offenses in an effort to reduce road crashes. The kingdom has seen a notable decrease in traffic fatalities by around 35% over the past five years, since 2016.
Earlier incidents include a collision between cars in Al Baha that resulted in one expatriate fatality and four Saudis injured, a road crash in Yanbu that claimed the life of a female schoolteacher and injured five others, and a bus overturning in Al Wajh, leading to four deaths and seven injuries. Authorities are continuously working to enhance road safety measures and curb traffic accidents.
