Qatar gas plant explosion kills 13 workers and injures 66

A deadly explosion at QatarEnergy's Barzan gas facility in Ras Laffan killed 13 workers, mostly from India and Pakistan, and injured 66 others during restart operations following maintenance work. Officials confirmed the incident was a technical and operational accident, ruling out sabotage or hostile activity, while stating that Qatar's major LNG export operations remain unaffected and there is no risk of hazardous gas leakage. The blast, which occurred on June 21, 2026, caused significant structural damage visible in new satellite imagery and shook windows across central Doha, alarming residents up to 70 kilometers away. Investigations by QatarEnergy and national authorities are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the explosion, which has dominated regional corporate risk discussions as the facility resumed operations just two days prior.