Car accident kills three Indonesian Umrah pilgrims

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- A car crash killed three Indonesian Umrah pilgrims and injured four others on the 150-kilometer Madinah Jeddah road, Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Agus Maftuh Abegebriel, said. The accident occured at around 12:00 local time on Sunday (June 18).

According to Abegebriel, in a statement received by Antara here on Tuesday, Azwar family from Jakarta, who were on Umrah pilgrimage on June 5, 2018, became victims of the accident. The family of seven, consisting of Azwar, Azwar's mother-in-law, his wife, his wife's sister, and three children, namely Lifia bint Azwar, Adel bin Azwar, and Dea were traveling on a Toyota Hi-Ace.

The three victims were Azwar's mother-in-law Frieda Said (75), his wife Ulfana Said (53), and Azwar's sister-in-law Elfina Said (49). Meanwhile, Azwar suffered a broken rib and his daughter Dea had a broken vertebra.

Meanwhile, Adel and Lifia suffered minor injuries on their hands and feet. The driver and two men from the travel agency survived the accident.

According to Lifia and Adel, the accident took place when the rear tire of the car, containing 10 passengers, ruptured, after it coincided with a sandstorm and rolled over several times.

The victims were in the middle seat, while Lifia and Adel were in the backseat.

The ambassador visited the fatalities at King Fahd Hospital Madinah to express his condolences and provide support for them. Abegebriel was accompanied by the Police Attaché of the Indonesian Embassy, Police Grand Commissioner Fahruurazi, and a Protocol staff member of the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah, Afnan.

Abegebriel promised to mobilize all capabilities to carry out the funeral process and provide assistance to the family members until their return to Indonesia. The Umrah management, Muasasah ad-Dhuha, also aided in the handling of documents of the family members who died in the accident.

Abegebriel pointed out that the phenomenon of sandstorms is common in Saudi Arabia and reminded Umrah pilgrims to travel safely. He added that Frieda, Ulfana, and Elfina have been buried at Baqi' Cemetery in Madinah on Tuesday (June 19).