Deadly Blast at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG Complex Kills 13, Injures 66; Indian Citizens Among Victims.

At least 13 people were killed and 66 injured Sunday evening after a “technical accident” caused a massive explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex, Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi confirmed Monday. Indian and Pakistani-origin employees were among the dead, he said, calling the incident a “tragedy”. 

 What Happened.

Blast during restart: The explosion occurred at the Barzan local gas supply facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City as workers tried to restart operations that had been halted after Iranian missile and drone attacks in March.

Fire and impact: The blast triggered a major fire and rattled windows across central Doha, more than 70 km away. Emergency teams brought the fire under control Sunday night.

No export disruption: Qatari authorities said the incident posed no threat to public safety and did not impact the country’s LNG export capability. The Barzan plant supplies gas for Qatar’s domestic electricity and desalination. 

Casualties and Nationalities.

Confirmed toll: Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi said 13 people died and 66 were injured.

Indian citizens killed: Al-Kaabi confirmed the victims included Indian and Pakistani-origin employees. The Indian Embassy in Doha expressed “deep concern” and said the Indian community “stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Qatar.” Emergency helplines +974-55647502 and +974-55384683 were issued.

Earlier reports: Initial figures from Qatar’s Interior Ministry listed 54 injured and 18 missing, but the energy minister’s Monday update put the toll at 13 dead, 66 injured. 

Why Ras Laffan Was Being Restarted.

March attacks: Ras Laffan, the world’s largest LNG export hub, sustained “significant damage” in March from Iranian missile and drone strikes during the Iran war. That cut about 17% of Qatar’s LNG export capacity and forced a halt in production.

Force majeure: QatarEnergy invoked force majeure on contracts with buyers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China after the March damage. CEO Saad al-Kaabi said full repairs could take 3–5 years.

Attempted restart: With Iran loosening its grip on the Strait of Hormuz amid negotiations, Qatar began work to restart the terminal Sunday. That work sparked the explosion at the Barzan facility. 

Official Response.

Investigation underway: Al-Kaabi said an investigation has started into the “technical incident.”

No hostile act: Qatari authorities attributed the blast to a technical accident during start-up, not a new attack.

Search ops: The Qatari International Search and Rescue Group and civil defence teams conducted search operations for the missing. 

Global Context.

Ras Laffan produces about one-fifth of global LNG supply. Analysts say any delay to restart timelines adds pressure on global gas markets already adjusting to months of Middle East supply uncertainty. 

Current Status: The fire is under control and officials say there is no hazardous leak. The extent of structural damage to the Barzan plant has not yet been detailed. 

This is a developing story. Casualty figures and damage assessments may be updated as Qatari authorities release more information.