Millions of Loyal Visitors Pour into Holy City of Karbala Ahead of Ashura Commemoration

Faithful visitors in their hundreds of thousands were descending on holy Iraqi city of Karbala on Wednesday to commemorate Ashura which marks the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH) in the year of 680.

Visitors' processions were surrounded by heavy security over fears of attacks, after violence in Iraq has claimed the lives of 10 visitors in the past few days.

Some 28,000 soldiers and police were securing the city, with a further 7,000 available if needed for the two million followers expected to visit Karbala, including around 100,000 foreigners.

Provincial authorities deployed dozens of mobile medical units across Karbala, 100 kilometers south of Baghdad, for visitors, many of whom had travelled by foot from across Iraq.

The massive influx means Karbala's 320 hotels have been filled, and local families are now opening their homes to travelers.