Qatar says 13 killed, 66 injured in Ras Laffan gas plant explosion

• Qatar says 13 people were killed and 66 injured in a gas plant explosion in the Ras Laffan industrial zone, but says LNG exports will continue unaffected.

Qatar’s energy minister said on Monday that 13 people were killed and 66 injured in an explosion at a gas plant in the Ras Laffan industrial zone, but stressed that the incident would not affect the country’s energy exports.

“I find myself today having to do something I have always hoped will never happen, and that is to announce the tragic loss of 13 lives of our people who hold Indian and Pakistani nationalities,” Energy Minister Saad al-Kaabi told reporters.

He said 66 people had been injured and were receiving medical treatment, adding that none of the injuries were life-threatening.

The explosion occurred on Sunday in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hub. Qatar’s interior ministry said the blast was caused by a “technical incident” at one of the factories in the zone.

“An internal explosion occurred in one of the factories in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area following a technical incident, and civil defence teams have begun handling the incident,” the ministry said in a statement.

The ministry had initially said no injuries were recorded and that there were no leaks posing a threat to public safety.

AFP journalists said they heard a blast in the north of Doha after the incident.

Kaabi said the accident would not affect Qatar’s exports, underlining the Gulf state’s continued ability to supply liquefied natural gas to global markets despite the deadly blast.

Ras Laffan is the centre of Qatar’s vast LNG industry and one of the most important energy export hubs in the world.