Explosion at Qatar’s Ras Laffan LNG facility injures 54, leaves 18 missing

An explosion and subsequent fire occurred at Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday, June 21, 2026, during the restart of operations at the Barzan local gas supply facility. The incident, attributed to a technical malfunction, resulted in 54 individuals sustaining injuries and 18 people currently reported as missing.

Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the site and successfully brought the fire under control. Qatari authorities have confirmed that there are no hazardous leaks posing a threat to public safety, and search and rescue operations are ongoing for the unaccounted individuals.

This incident comes as Qatar was working to resume operations at its key natural gas export terminal, which had previously faced disruptions and damage from Iranian missile and drone attacks in March. The Barzan facility primarily supplies gas for domestic use, though the full extent of the damage and its potential impact on broader LNG exports remain unclear.