Qatar LNG Plant Blast Kills 13, Injures 66 Including Pakistanis

News Desk

Doha: A powerful explosion at a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Qatar’s key industrial hub, Ras Laffan Industrial City, has killed 13 people and injured 66 others, including foreign workers from several countries.

According to Qatar Energy, the blast occurred on Monday at the Barzan Gas Supply Center, one of the world’s largest LNG facilities, triggering a major fire. The incident reportedly took place while the plant was being restarted after a temporary shutdown.

Qatari authorities said a technical malfunction caused the explosion, which quickly ignited a large fire that spread across parts of the facility. Emergency response teams and civil defense personnel were immediately dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze and evacuate workers.

Initial reports indicated that 18 people were missing and 54 were injured. Authorities later confirmed that the death toll had risen to 13, including Pakistani and Indian nationals.

A total of 66 people sustained injuries in the incident. The injured include citizens of Qatar, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Guinea, Kenya, and Nigeria. Officials stated that none of the injured are currently in critical condition.

Qatar Energy announced that a technical investigation has been launched to determine the exact cause of the explosion and fire.

The company emphasized that the incident has not affected Qatar’s LNG exports, gas processing operations, or activities at Ras Laffan Port, all of which continue to function normally.

The company added that further details regarding the identities of the deceased and the findings of the investigation will be released once the inquiry is completed.

Pakistan Seeking Confirmation of Casualties

Reacting to reports of Pakistani casualties, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said Pakistan is in contact with Qatari authorities to verify information regarding affected Pakistani nationals.

“There are reports that three Pakistani citizens were injured in the incident. We have contacted the Qatari government for confirmation,” Andrabi told media, adding that the final situation will become clear once verified information is received.

Strategic Energy Hub

Ras Laffan Industrial City is one of the world’s most important energy centers and serves as the backbone of Qatar’s LNG production, processing, and export operations.

As Qatar is among the largest exporters of liquefied natural gas globally, the accident has drawn international attention and raised concerns in global energy markets.

Despite the tragedy, Qatar Energy has reassured international customers and investors that LNG exports and related operations remain unaffected. Additonal  input from Aaj News website.