Qatar LNG Facility Explosion Claims 13 Lives, 66 Injuries

Tue Jun 23 2026 11:35:17 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

An explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan gas plant left at least 13 dead and 66 injured, prompting urgent investigations and raising concerns about safety at the world’s largest LNG exporter.

A technical accident at Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquified‑natural‑gas facility caused an explosion that killed at least thirteen people and wounded sixty‑six others. Energy Minister Saad Sherida al‑Kaabi said it was accidental and would not impact LNG exports, though full production may be delayed pending investigations. The blast shattered windows across Doha and triggered emergency teams. The incident follows earlier Iranian attacks on the port, which already reduced output considerably. Indian and Pakistani nationals were among the casualties, and their families have received support from their embassies.

Qatar Gas Facility Explosion Claims 13 Lives, 66 Injuries

At least thirteen people were killed and 66 injured after a technical accident exploded at Qatar’s Ras Laffan liquified‑natural‑gas (LNG) processing plant on Sunday night. The blast sent orange fire across Doha’s skyline and shattered windows for residents more than 70 km away.

Energy Minister Saad Sherida al‑Kaabi said the explosion was accidental and not a sabotage. He added that the incident would not affect LNG exports, although full plant production could be delayed as work is carried out to identify the cause.

The Barzan local gas supply facility, part of the largest artificial harbour in the world, suffered the blast when restarting operations that ceased in March. The plant had stopped production in December 2025 for urgent maintenance and only resumed two days before the incident.

QatarEnergy confirmed the fire was contained after emergency teams responded immediately. The cause remains under investigations that also confirmed no environmental impact from the blast.

Qatar’s rescue services are assisting residents and families of the deceased and wounded, many of whom are Indian and Pakistani nationals. The Indian embassy in Doha pledged support to victims’ families.

The blast follows earlier Iranian strikes on the Ras Laffan port during the US‑Israel conflict with Iran. Those attacks caused repair work that is expected to reduce LNG output by 12.8 million tonnes over the next three to five years.