4 Filipinos hurt in Riyadh airport attack, 3 in ICU

Travellers through stanchion lines at the departure terminal of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on April 2, 2026.

AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Three of the four Filipinos injured in an attack at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, remain in intensive care units (ICUs), while the fourth is expected to be discharged, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) said Sunday, October 12.

The four Filipinos are recovering at different hospitals in Riyadh, according to the DMW.

"Batay sa ulat ni Labor Attache Dominador Salangga ng Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-Riyadh, tatlo ang kasalukuyang nasa ICU samantalang ang isa pa ay set for discharge from the hospital," the agency said in a statement posted on Facebook.

(Based on a report by Labor Attache Dominador Salangga of the Migrant Workers Office (MWO)-Riyadh, three are currently in the ICU while the other is set for discharge from the hospital.)

The DMW said its teams, along with the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) in Riyadh, are monitoring the condition of the injured Filipinos and providing the necessary assistance and support.

"Wala namang naiulat na Pilipinong nasawi kaugnay ng insidente," the agency said.

(No Filipino deaths have been reported in connection with the incident.)

The MWO is also coordinating with local authorities and hospitals to determine whether other Filipinos were affected by the attack and ensure they receive the necessary assistance.

The DMW advised overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) in Saudi Arabia to avoid areas that could be targeted in attacks, including military installations and oil refineries. Those at airports were also told to stay away from crowded areas.

OFWs were urged to follow announcements from the Philippine Embassy, consulates and MWO offices in Saudi Arabia, as well as the social media pages of Saudi government agencies.

Those scheduled to return to the Philippines were advised to contact their airlines before heading to the airport or check the email addresses they used to book their flights for updates. The agency also advised OFWs to ask their employers to regularly check their emails.

The DMW reminded Filipinos not to take photos or videos of attacks or post them on social media, warning that these activities are strictly prohibited in Saudi Arabia and may carry penalties.

Filipinos who need assistance may contact the following offices:

Riyadh/Central Region

• Philippine Embassy, Assistance to Nationals: +966 56 989 3301
• MWO Riyadh: +966 50 285 0944; [email protected]
• OWWA Riyadh: +966 50 285 0944; [email protected]

Jeddah/Western Region

• Philippine Consulate General, Assistance to Nationals: +966 55 521 9613 or +966 55 521 9614
• MWO Jeddah: +966 56 981 9720; [email protected]
• OWWA Jeddah: +966 54 473 7797; [email protected]

Al Khobar/Eastern Region

• MWO Al Khobar: +966 56 232 9926; [email protected]
• OWWA Al Khobar: +966 56 232 9926; [email protected]

The attack on Saturday, October 10, killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300 others, according to Saudi civil aviation officials. The Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis blamed the group for the strike, which a diplomatic source attributed to a missile fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels. 

A fresh Houthi strike hit the Riyadh airport on Sunday, killing a Pakistani resident and injuring 11 others, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said, according to Agence France-Presse.

The fresh attack caused property damage, the extent of which was still being assessed. Authorities extended the airport's closure by 24 hours until 9 p.m. GMT on Monday, or 5 a.m. Tuesday in the Philippines.