DOHA: A powerful explosion followed by a fire at a factory in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City has injured 54 people and left 18 others missing, authorities confirmed on Monday.
According to Qatar’s Ministry of Interior, the incident occurred on Sunday during a “technical event” at a facility in the Ras Laffan industrial zone, located north of Doha. Emergency teams are continuing search and rescue operations to locate the missing individuals.
State-owned QatarEnergy said the explosion and subsequent fire broke out at the Barzan Local Gas Supply Facility while operations were being restored. Initial reports described the incident as an internal explosion, but officials later clarified that it was caused by a technical malfunction.
Witnesses reported seeing massive flames and thick smoke rising into the sky, visible from several kilometers away. The dramatic scene sparked concern due to Ras Laffan’s status as one of the world’s largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) hubs.
Authorities stated that multiple people sustained injuries, but no gas leaks or releases of hazardous materials have been detected. Officials emphasized that there is currently no threat to public safety.
The Ministry of Interior said relevant agencies are closely monitoring the situation and taking all necessary measures to manage the aftermath of the incident.
While Ras Laffan has previously drawn attention due to regional tensions and concerns over energy infrastructure security, Qatari authorities have stressed that the latest explosion was the result of a technical fault and not linked to any external attack.
Investigations into the cause of the incident remain ongoing.
