VOI World/ Desk
Twelve Indians killed in Qatar LNG hub blast after an explosion and fire ripped through a gas processing facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas complexes. Qatari authorities said 13 people were killed and 66 others injured in the incident, which they described as a technical accident rather than an act of sabotage.
According to Qatar’s Energy Minister Saad Al-Kaabi, the explosion occurred on Sunday evening during the restart of operations at the Barzan gas supply facility, which had remained shut for months following damage caused by Iranian attacks earlier this year. The minister stressed that the incident was accidental and posed no threat to the environment or the country’s LNG export capabilities.
The Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed that 12 Indian nationals were among those killed and said it was working closely with Qatari authorities to provide assistance to affected families and ensure the early repatriation of mortal remains. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar expressed condolences and assured support to the families of the victims.
Officials said none of the 66 injured are in life-threatening condition. The casualties included workers of different nationalities, with Indians forming the largest group among the dead. QatarEnergy has launched an investigation into the cause of the explosion.
Ras Laffan is central to Qatar’s energy industry and handles a significant share of the country’s gas production. Although the blast has raised concerns over safety, authorities said LNG operations and exports remain unaffected. The incident is among the deadliest industrial accidents in the Gulf’s gas sector in more than two decades.
