Dubai | At least 13 people, including Indians, were killed in an explosion at the Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar, the Gulf country's energy minister Saad bin Shreida Al-Kaabi said on Monday.
Al-Kaabi, who is also the CEO of QatarEnergy, said 66 people were injured in the fire caused by the explosion at the Barzan local gas supply facility in Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening, Doha News reported.
During a press briefing on Monday, Al-Kaabi confirmed that 13 people of Indian and Pakistani origins have died in the incident.
The exact number of Indian victims was not immediately known.
The Embassy of India in Doha said it is in constant touch with Qatari authorities and will render all help to the families of those who have lost their lives or have been injured.
"We convey our deepest condolences to the families of those who have unfortunately passed away in the sad incident at Ras Laffan Industrial City last night," it said in a post on X.
The Embassy issued the following helpline numbers: +974-55647502 or +975-55384683 and email: cons.doha@mea.gov.in.
The injured were from several countries, including India, Qatar, Tanzania, Pakistan, Guinea, Nepal, Bangladesh, Kenya and Nigeria, local media reported.
Earlier, the Embassy of India expressed "deep concern at the unfortunate incident", in which several people got injured, and some are missing.
"At this challenging and difficult time, the Embassy of India and the entire Indian community in Qatar stands in solidarity with the Government and people of Qatar. We wish for the speedy recovery of those injured and hope and pray for the safety of those missing," it said.
Earlier, QatarEnergy said that the incident occurred during the start-up of operations, which resulted in an explosion and fire at the Barzan local gas supply facility on Sunday evening.
Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the fire, which is now under control, it said in a statement.
