Twelve Indian nationals were killed and several others injured in an explosion and fire at Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas complex, the Indian embassy in Doha said on Monday.
Qatari minister of state for energy Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi told a news conference in Doha that 13 people were killed and 66 others injured in the incident at the Barzan gas supply facility operated by QatarEnergy LNG in Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening.
Qatari authorities said a “technical accident” occurred at the gas supply facility as workers were restarting operations halted after an Iranian attack in March. Al-Kaabi said the explosion was an accident and “not sabotage or hostile in nature”.
The Indian embassy said on social media that Qatari authorities had confirmed 12 Indian nationals were killed in the incident. “We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and prayers for the departed souls,” it said.
Al-Kaabi said the injured included nationals of Qatar, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria and Nepal. The Indian embassy said all the injured “are in stable condition and are receiving appropriate medical treatment”.
The embassy is working with Qatari authorities to extend help to the Indian nationals affected by the incident and their families, including ensuring the mortal remains of the dead are sent to India at the earliest.
In a statement on social media, Qatar’s interior ministry said the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group worked in coordination with Civil Defence teams to carry out search operations at the site.
The interior ministry further said preliminary findings indicated the incident was caused by a “technical malfunction during operations at the facility”. It reassured the public that there was no hazardous leak threatening public safety.
Qatar, which hosts a key US military base, has come under Iranian missile and drone attacks during the West Asia conflict.
Qatar is home to more than 830,000 Indian nationals, the largest expatriate community in the country. Indians are engaged in professions such as medicine, engineering, education, finance, and business, as well as a large number of blue-collar workers.
Al-Kaabi said the QatarEnergy LNG facilities, Ras Laffan port and other logistical operations were not affected by the explosion.