A severe explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial zone has resulted in 13 deaths and 66 injuries. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, causing a massive orange glow visible across the city. Qatar’s Energy Minister, Saad Sherida al-Kaabi, confirmed the fatalities were nationals from India and Pakistan, while the Indian Embassy in Doha has pledged full support to the affected families.
Minister al-Kaabi emphasized that the event was a technical accident rather than an act of sabotage. Although the fire is now contained, the facility faces significant operational downtime. Production at the site had only recently resumed following an urgent maintenance period that began in December 2025.
The blast was powerful enough to shake buildings over 70 kilometers away in central Doha. QatarEnergy reported that the damage will lead to a reduction in LNG output by 12.8 million tons over the next three to five years. An official investigation into the root cause of the incident is currently underway, though authorities have stated there is no risk to the surrounding environment.
