Qatar gas hub explosion: 13 killed, 66 injured; energy minister rules out foul play
The explosion occurred on Sunday during the start-up of operations at the Barzan local gas supply facility, according to state-owned energy giant QatarEnergy.
QATAR'S Energy Minister has said the deadly explosion at the Ras Laffan Industrial City gas complex was an accident and not the result of any hostile action or sabotage, as authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the blast.
Providing the first official casualty update since the incident, the minister said 13 people were killed and 66 others injured in the explosion and fire at the Barzan gas supply facility.
The latest figures mark a significant increase from earlier reports that had indicated dozens of injuries and several people missing.
'An accident, not aggression or sabotage'
The minister sought to dispel speculation that the explosion may have been linked to recent regional tensions or attacks on energy infrastructure.
"What happened at Ras Laffan was an accident and not an aggression or sabotage," he said.
The clarification comes amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf following months of conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, during which several energy facilities across the region were targeted.
Investigation underway
Authorities have begun a formal investigation into the incident.
The energy minister said officials are currently working to determine the precise cause of the explosion.
"We are currently working on determining the cause of the blast," he said.
Earlier, authorities had described the incident as a "technical accident" and suggested that a technical malfunction may have triggered the explosion during the start-up of operations at the Barzan facility.
Exports unaffected
Despite the severity of the explosion, Qatar's energy sector has so far avoided major disruptions to international supplies.
The minister said the incident "has not affected our export capabilities," indicating that liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments and other energy exports continue to operate normally.
The assurance is likely to ease concerns in global energy markets, given Qatar's position as one of the world's largest LNG exporters and a key supplier to countries across Asia and Europe.
Blast occurred during restart operations
According to state-owned energy company QatarEnergy, the explosion occurred at the Barzan local gas supply facility during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City.
The blast triggered a major fire that was later brought under control by emergency response teams.
The Barzan facility plays a critical role in supplying gas for domestic power generation, water desalination plants and industrial consumers, while also producing ethane, condensate, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and sulphur.
Focus shifts to cause of explosion
With rescue operations largely completed and casualty figures now confirmed, investigators are expected to focus on whether equipment failure, operational errors or other technical factors contributed to the accident.
