Investigations are underway into a mistaken exchange of two bodies at a hospital in eastern Saudi Arabia. This incident adds to a series of similar occurrences reported in the Kingdom.

Saudi newspaper Al Watan reported that the Eastern Health Cluster has initiated a large-scale inquiry into the mix-up at the hospital in Qatif governorate. "All necessary measures will be taken," the paper quoted officials as saying.

Unnamed sources mentioned that one body was initially found in Al Ihsa and, due to a full morgue, transferred to Central Qatif Hospital. After an autopsy, the body was handed over for burial. However, the family discovered the shocking mistake during the ritual washing of the deceased—the body was not that of their 40-year-old son. The pre-burial funeral prayer was postponed, and the corpse was returned to the hospital.

Investigations are ongoing to locate the second body since the death announcement on June 27. Authorities have yet to comment.

Similar incidents have been reported in Saudi Arabia over the years. In 2017, a mix-up involved a Saudi woman's body being swapped with that of a Sudanese expatriate, according to Al Yaum newspaper. In Buraidah, two separate incidents in 2008 and 2013 revealed similar errors, including one case where a grieving family preparing to bury their deceased woman received a call informing them the body was that of a male expatriate. In 2011, the family of a Filipino who died in Riyadh discovered that the corpse flown home was not their relative but a person with Arab features.