KATHMANDU, Oct 22: A Nepali national was killed and another person from the Philippines died after debris from an intercepted drone struck an oil facility operated by Saudi Aramco in southeastern Saudi Arabia on Wednesday. Two others, including an Indian national, were injured.
Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said the drone was targeting the Shaybah oil field, located near the border with the United Arab Emirates. The ministry did not identify who launched the drone. “The attempted attack resulted in the deaths of two individuals, a Filipino and a Nepali, and injuries to two others,” the ministry said in a statement.
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The two injured individuals were Pakistani and Indian nationals, according to the ministry. Debris from the intercepted drone also sparked a fire in a contractor’s vehicle at the facility.
The death of the Nepali national highlights the risks faced by Nepali migrant workers employed in the Gulf region, where many work in sectors including construction, services and energy-related operations.
However, the Saudi authorities have not released the deceased Nepali national’s identity, hometown or employment details. The incident comes amid a series of attacks on Saudi Arabia’s airports and energy infrastructure attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Saudi authorities have not publicly identified the group responsible for the latest attempted attack on the Shaybah oil field. Further details about the deceased Nepali national and possible arrangements for repatriating the body were not available in the report.