3 Asian workers missing after Saudi oil rig belonging to Aramco sinks during maintenance work

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Saudi Arabia's official news agency says three Asian workers are missing while several others suffered minor injuries after an offshore mobile rig belonging to the country's oil giant sank during maintenance work.

A statement from the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, says 24 workers were rescued following Friday's accident in the waters off the coast of al-Safaniya region — the site of the world's largest offshore oil field. Two of the missing are from India while the third worker is a Bangladeshi.

The statement was carried by the SPA news agency.

Aramco says rescue teams are still searching for the missing workers. The company says the incident will be investigated and that it's not expected to affect overall production.

Saudi Arabia is the world's top oil producer.