Explosion as Qatar restarts gas export terminal injures 54, leaves 18 missing

An explosion tore through Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area late on Sunday (June 21, 2026), injuring at least 54 people and leaving 18 others missing.

Ras Laffan is home to Qatar’s main export terminal for its natural gas sales. It was targeted by Iran in the war and has been shut down for weeks afterward.

Qatar said the blast happened after workers tried to restart facilities there at the Barzan plant.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry announced the explosion earlier, but at first said only a few people had been hurt.