Major blast at Qatar’s strategic gas facility leaves 13 dead, dozens injured VIDEO / UPDATED

22 June 2026 18:20

An explosion ripped through Qatar’s strategically important Ras Laffan natural gas export complex on June 21 night, killing at least 13 people and injuring dozens more as workers attempted to resume operations following damage caused by Iranian strikes during the recent conflict.

The blast occurred at the Barzan gas supply facility in the Ras Laffan industrial area, a critical hub for Qatar’s energy sector. The incident comes as the Gulf state seeks to restore production and exports after disruptions linked to tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

State-owned QatarEnergy said the explosion and subsequent fire occurred during efforts to restart operations at the facility. The company did not immediately disclose the full extent of the damage.

Qatar had previously suspended production after Iranian military actions and concerns over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz disrupted export routes. As negotiations continued over a permanent end to the conflict and Iran eased restrictions affecting maritime traffic, authorities began preparations to bring the terminal back online.

Initial reports suggested only a small number of casualties. However, several hours later, Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported that 18 people were missing and 54 others had been injured.

Speaking at a press conference in Doha on Monday, Energy Minister Saad Sherida Al Kaabi confirmed that 13 people had been killed in the incident and described the explosion as the result of an industrial accident.

The Barzan facility has a production capacity of nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day. The gas is used primarily for domestic electricity generation and to power Qatar’s extensive desalination infrastructure, which is essential for water supplies across the arid Gulf nation.

Qatar holds nearly full ownership of the plant, while a minority stake is owned by ExxonMobil. The US energy giant did not immediately comment on the incident.

The latest accident follows an earlier strike on Ras Laffan. In March, an Iranian missile hit the industrial area, triggering a fire that authorities said caused “extensive” damage before being brought under control. Qatar had already halted production at the site because of Iranian attacks.

Qatar shares the world’s largest offshore natural gas field with Iran in the Persian Gulf. Revenues from gas exports have transformed the country into one of the wealthiest nations in the world, funding major international initiatives including the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the establishment of Al Jazeera, and diplomatic mediation efforts such as the recent talks between the United States and Iran in Switzerland.

08:48

More than 50 people were injured, and 18 others remain missing following an explosion at a plant in the industrial city of Ras Laffan, Qatar, according to the country’s Ministry of Interior.

“The total number of people injured as a result of the incident at one of the plants in the Ras Laffan industrial zone has reached 54, while the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group, which is part of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), in cooperation with Civil Defence teams, has launched search operations for 18 missing persons,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X.

Qatari authorities said the incident was caused by a technical malfunction. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.