In brief
At least 13 workers died and 66 were hurt in a blast at Qatar’s largest liquefied natural gas plant in Ras Laffan. The explosion, described by the energy minister as a technical accident, sparked a localized orange sky and rattled buildings over 70 kilometers away from Doha. The incident comes after Ras Laffan endured earlier attacks linked to the Iran‑Israel conflict. QatarEnergy said emergency teams contained the fire, but production repairs could cut output for years. The government and foreign embassies are coordinating support for the victims’ families.
A technical accident at the Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas — LNG — processing plant on Sunday night sparked a large explosion that left 13 workers dead and wounded 66 others. The incident rattled windows across Doha and yielded an orange glow that illuminated the city skyline.
\Energy Minister Saad Sherida al-Kaabi said the blast was not sabotage but a maintenance‑related mishap. He emphasized that it would not interrupt Qatar\u2019s LNG exports, though the plant had been idle for months due to urgent repairs. The facility was first restarted two days after shutting down for maintenance in December.
\Ras Laffan serves as the world\u2019s largest artificial harbour and LNG export hub, having faced earlier attacks during the Iran–Israel escalation. Current investigations seek to clarify the exact cause and whether any environmental risk exists.
\The Indian Embassy in Doha confirmed that all 13 deceased workers were from India and Pakistan, offering condolences and assistance to their families. The incident underlines the fragile nature of energy supply chains amid geopolitical tensions.
\Official assessment: QatarEnergy officials report emergency response teams contained the fire, but repairs could reduce annual LNG output by 12.8 million metric tons for three to five years. Meanwhile, political analysis suggests the blast will further strain Qatar\u2019s position in an already tense Gulf region.
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