Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. The Indonesian Hajj Affairs Office at the Ministry of Religious Affairs is formally requesting fair compensation for 24 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims whose belongings were destroyed in a bus fire en route to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

"We are currently in communication with the muassasah service provider to ensure the pilgrims receive appropriate compensation, as all of their luggage and personal items were incinerated in this incident," said M. Ilham Effendy, a Technical Hajj Staff at the Ministry, in Jakarta on Saturday (28/3/2026), as cited by antaranews.com.

The accident occurred on Thursday, approximately 50 kilometers outside of Medina, shortly after the bus cleared the final checkpoint from Mecca. Fortunately, the driver acted swiftly upon noticing mechanical distress, successfully evacuating all 24 passengers before the vehicle was engulfed in flames. 

The Hajj Office confirmed that there were no fatalities or injuries, and the pilgrims have since reached their hotels in Medina via a replacement bus. The Ministry continues to coordinate with Saudi authorities to ensure the pilgrims' immediate needs are met while urging all Umrah travel organizers to strictly enforce transportation safety standards to prevent future accidents in Saudi Arbia.

(mg/inp/pr/rs)