Explosion at Qatar LNG Plant Reportedly Kills 13, Injures 66; Pakistan Seeks Verification of Casualties

ISLAMABAD/DOHA: An explosion at an LNG processing facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City has reportedly left 13 people dead and 66 injured, including foreign nationals from several countries, according to media reports and statements cited by local sources.

QatarEnergy said a major fire broke out following an explosion at a gas facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City, one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) hubs located near the Qatari capital, Doha.

According to reports, the blast occurred at the Barzan gas supply facility while operations were being resumed after a previous shutdown. Qatari authorities were quoted as saying that the incident was caused by a technical malfunction, which triggered a large fire that spread rapidly through parts of the facility.

Emergency response teams and civil defense personnel brought the blaze under control and evacuated the injured to nearby hospitals. Reports indicate that the death toll has risen to 13, while 66 people sustained injuries. Those affected reportedly include citizens of Qatar, Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Guinea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that reports had been received regarding injuries to three Pakistani nationals. However, he added that the government was in contact with Qatari authorities to verify the information and establish the exact situation.

“The final position regarding Pakistani citizens will be shared after receiving confirmed information from the Qatari government,” the spokesperson said.

QatarEnergy stated that a technical investigation had been launched to determine the cause of the explosion and fire. The company added that LNG exports, gas processing operations, and activities at Ras Laffan Port had not been disrupted and continued as normal despite the incident.

Ras Laffan Industrial City is one of the world’s most important energy hubs, housing major LNG production, processing, and export facilities. Qatar remains one of the largest exporters of liquefied natural gas globally, making any significant incident at the complex a matter of international interest.