Twelve Indian nationals were among 13 people killed after a major explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG facility, with 66 others injured.
Qatar: Twelve Indian nationals were among 13 people killed after a powerful explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, home to the world's largest liquefied natural gas export facility, authorities confirmed.
At least 13 people have died and 66 others have been injured following a major explosion at the Barzan gas supply facility inside Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world's most important energy hubs.
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Qatari authorities described the incident as a "technical accident" that occurred on Sunday night during the restart of operations at the facility. The Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed that 12 of the 13 victims were Indian nationals and said it was coordinating with local authorities to assist affected families.
The explosion lit up the night sky over northern Qatar and was reportedly heard and felt across large parts of the country, including central Doha.
Blast occurred during restart of operations
According to Qatar's Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, the accident took place while workers were restarting operations at the Barzan gas facility.
The plant had reportedly been shut down since December 2025 for urgent maintenance work and had resumed operations only two days before the explosion.
Barzan is a key domestic gas supply facility that provides fuel for Qatar's electricity generation and water desalination infrastructure. The facility has a production capacity of approximately 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day.
Emergency teams were immediately deployed after the blast, and authorities later confirmed that the resulting fire had been brought under control.
Authorities rule out sabotage
Qatari officials have stressed that there is currently no indication of sabotage or hostile action.
"This was an accident and not sabotage or hostile in nature," Energy Minister al-Kaabi said while announcing the launch of a formal investigation.
Authorities are now examining the exact cause of the explosion, although no preliminary findings have yet been released.
The minister also stated that there were no environmental risks arising from the incident.
LNG exports remain unaffected
Despite the scale of the explosion, Qatar has sought to reassure global energy markets that its export operations remain intact.
The Energy Ministry stated that the accident would not affect the country's ability to export liquefied natural gas.
"This will not affect in any way our exports to the world," al-Kaabi said.
However, officials acknowledged that it remains unclear when normal operations at the affected facility will fully resume.
Ras Laffan's strategic importance
Ras Laffan Industrial City is one of the most significant energy centres in the world.
The complex hosts the world's largest liquefied natural gas export infrastructure and is connected to Ras Laffan Port, considered the largest artificial harbour globally.
Qatar is among the world's leading LNG exporters, making developments at Ras Laffan closely watched by international energy markets.
The facility had already faced disruptions earlier this year amid regional conflict, with reports indicating damage from Iranian retaliatory strikes during the US-Israel-Iran war.
Production had previously been halted during the conflict, affecting a substantial portion of global LNG supply before shipments gradually resumed.
Indian Embassy offers assistance
The Indian Embassy in Doha expressed condolences to the families of those killed and confirmed that it remains in constant contact with Qatari authorities.
In a statement, the embassy said it would provide all possible assistance to the families of both the deceased and those injured in the incident.
"We convey our deepest condolences to the families of those who have unfortunately passed away in the sad incident at Ras Laffan Industrial City," the embassy said.
Victims from multiple countries affected
While officials confirmed that most of those killed were Indian nationals, the blast also affected workers from several other countries.
Reports indicate that nationals from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Tanzania, Kenya, Guinea, Nigeria and Qatar were among those impacted by the incident.
The explosion was reportedly so powerful that it rattled buildings and windows more than 70 kilometres away, causing panic among residents across parts of Qatar.
Investigation underway
A full investigation has been launched to determine what triggered the explosion during the facility's restart process.
Authorities are expected to examine operational procedures, maintenance records and technical systems at the Barzan facility as part of the probe.
The findings will be closely watched both within Qatar and internationally, given the critical role Ras Laffan plays in global energy supply chains.
Published: 23 Jun 2026, 08:09 am IST
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