Major explosion at Qatar's largest energy site injures dozens, 18 remain unaccounted for
An explosion at Qatar's key natural gas export terminal on Sunday night injured at least 54 people and left 18 missing. The blast occurred as workers tried to restart operations at the facility, which had been damaged by an Iranian attack.
A powerful explosion tore through Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial complex on Sunday evening, sparking a fire that wounded at least 54 people, with 18 others still unaccounted for hours later. The Qatari Interior Ministry initially reported only a few injuries, but later released considerably higher casualty figures.
The blast struck the Barzan gas supply facility, a key component of the country's energy infrastructure. The plant has a capacity of approximately 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day, primarily used for domestic electricity generation and powering water desalination plants. The facility is almost entirely owned by state-run QatarEnergy, with a small stake held by ExxonMobil.
The explosion happened as workers attempted to resume operations after an Iranian missile hit the Ras Laffan facility in March, causing extensive damage. Qatar had halted production there following the attack. With Iran recently easing its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing negotiations to permanently end the war, Qatar began efforts to restart its export terminal—efforts that led to Sunday's explosion.
The full extent of the damage remains unclear, but the incident could further disrupt global energy markets. Qatar is one of the world's top natural gas producers, sharing a massive offshore gas field with Iran in the Persian Gulf. Revenues from natural gas have made Qatar one of the wealthiest nations globally, funding major investments worldwide and positioning it as a key international mediator.
