3 Asian workers drown after Saudi oil rig sinks

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi Arabia's official news agency says the bodies of three South Asian workers have been recovered from the sea after an offshore mobile rig belonging to the country's main oil company sank during maintenance work.

A statement from the Saudi Arabian Oil Co., known as Aramco, said the bodies were recovered Saturday. It says 24 workers were rescued, some of whom sustained minor injuries.

The accident took place Friday off the coast of al-Safaniya region — the site of the world's largest offshore oil field. Two of the workers are from India while the third worker is a Bangladeshi.

The statement was carried by the SPA news agency.

The company says the incident will be investigated and that it's not expected to affect overall production.