A Nepali worker and a Filipino national were killed in a drone attack targeting a Saudi Aramco project at the Shaybah oil field in Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province on Wednesday morning, the Saudi energy ministry said. A Pakistani and an Indian national were injured.
The identity and home address of the Nepali worker, as well as further details of the incident, have not been made public.
According to the ministry, Saudi air defences intercepted a drone that was heading towards the oil field’s processing facility. During the attempted attack, a vehicle belonging to a contractor working at the oil field caught fire.
The fire occurred outside the perimeter of the processing facility and did not affect operations at the oil field, the ministry said.
Relevant authorities took the necessary measures following the incident, the ministry added. It expressed condolences to the families of those killed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Saudi Arabia is a major destination for Nepali migrant workers, thousands of whom are employed across the country.
Hom Karki is a reporter with two decades experience covering migrant workers issues and the Nepali diaspora. He was previously based in the Gulf for Kantipur Daily.
