An explosion occurred at a liquefied natural gas facility in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City. The Ministry of Interior announced that the explosion resulted in 54 injuries and 18 people missing.
The incident happened at the Barzan plant due to a 'technical fault'. The Qatar International Search and Rescue Group has launched search operations for the missing individuals.
QatarEnergy announced that emergency response teams were dispatched to the site and the fire at the facility has been brought under control. The ministry stated there is no leak threatening public health.
World's largest LNG production center
Ras Laffan Industrial City, where the explosion took place, is located about 80 kilometers north of the capital, Doha. It is the world's largest LNG export facility, producing approximately one-fifth of the global supply.
The region was targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks in March, sustaining 'significant damage'. Following these attacks, QatarEnergy invoked force majeure clauses in some of its contracts affecting customers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China.