At least 13 workers were killed and 66 others injured when a technical accident at Qatar’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing site sent orange clouds and an intense flash across Doha’s skyline.
The explosion, reported by the Interior Ministry, occurred in the Barzan local gas supply facility of Ras Laffan, the world’s biggest LNG export hub. Residents within 70 km felt the shockwave, and windows rattled across central Doha.
Energy Minister Saad Sherida al‑Kaabi ruled the blast a non‑sabotage accident, stating it would not affect national exports. He added investigations were underway and that production had only resumed two days prior after urgent maintenance stops since December 2025.
The incident follows earlier Iranian missile attacks on Ras Laffan Port, Qatar’s massive artificial harbour, which had damaged the LNG facility during the US‑Israel war with Iran. Qatar had briefly halted half of the world’s LNG output amid the conflict; shipments have only recently restarted.
The Energy Minister confirmed the victims were all nationals from India and Pakistan. The Indian Embassy in Doha pledged support, offering assistance to families in mourning.
QatarEnergy said repairs would cut output by 12.8 million tonnes of LNG for three to five years. Operations might pause again once investigation and reconstruction are complete.
