This study investigates the impact of varying soil cover thicknesses on the damage sustained by subway station roofs during leakage and explosion events involving sub-high-pressure gas pipelines. Taking a station on Zhengzhou Metro Line 12 as the case study, the TNT equivalent method was employed to quantify the explosion load. A full-scale numerical simulation model was developed using ANSYS / LS-DYNA, and the accuracy of the finite element model was validated through experimental data and theoretical calculations. The influence of different soil cover thicknesses on the structure of the subway station roof slab under the action of medium-pressure gas pipeline leakage and explosion was simulated. The damage effect of the subway station roof slab was comprehensively analyzed from three aspects: structural damage, failure mode, and dynamic response. The damage function of the subway station roof slab was established by the dimensional analysis method, and the relationship between the damage of the subway station roof slab and the ratio of soil cover thickness was analyzed through the damage threshold line. It was found that the ratio of soil cover thickness on the upper part of the subway station roof slab has a significant impact on the damage effect of the subway station roof slab. The research results provide a reference basis for evaluating the explosion resistance capacity of subway stations and designing and implementing efficient protection strategies.