**At Least 13 Killed and Dozens Injured After Qatar Gas Explosion**
At least 13 people have lost their lives and 66 others have sustained injuries following a significant explosion at Qatar's largest gas facility, located in the Ras Laffan industrial zone. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, as confirmed by the country's interior ministry, which described the event as a "technical accident."
The explosion took place at the Barzan local gas supply facility, a critical component of Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing operations. The blast was powerful enough to be felt across central Doha, with reports indicating that windows rattled and residents experienced panic even over 70 kilometers (approximately 43 miles) away from the site.
Qatar's Energy Minister, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, addressed the media following the explosion, stating that the incident was not a result of sabotage or hostile actions. "This was an accident," he emphasized, reassuring the public that it would not impact the country's LNG exports. The Ras Laffan Port, where the explosion occurred, is recognized as the largest artificial harbor globally and houses the world's largest LNG export facility.
Emergency response teams were dispatched immediately to manage the situation, and it was reported that the fire resulting from the explosion is now under control. Minister al-Kaabi noted that the government is actively investigating the cause of the blast, although he acknowledged that determining when operations at the facility could resume would be challenging.
The facility had recently restarted operations after being shut down for urgent maintenance since December 2025. The restart occurred just two days prior to the explosion, raising concerns about the safety protocols in place during the resumption of operations.
Al-Kaabi confirmed that all those who died in the explosion were foreign workers from India and Pakistan. The incident has raised alarms regarding worker safety in Qatar's industrial sectors, particularly as the country plays a significant role in global energy supply.
The Ras Laffan facility has previously been targeted during geopolitical tensions, notably earlier this year when it suffered damage from Iranian strikes amid the ongoing US-Israel conflict with Iran. QatarEnergy, the state-owned energy company, indicated that repairs from past incidents had already reduced output by an estimated 12.8 million tons of LNG over the next three to five years.
Despite the current tragedy, Qatar's energy sector remains a crucial player in the global market, and officials are working to ensure that the incident does not disrupt the country's LNG exports further.
As investigations into the explosion continue, the focus will likely be on enhancing safety measures and protocols at industrial sites to prevent future accidents.