An explosion and fire ripped through the Barzan local gas supply facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening, injuring 54 people and leaving 18 others missing, authorities said.

According to Qatar’s Interior Ministry, the incident occurred during the start-up phase of operations at the Barzan gas supply facility, a key component of the country's domestic natural gas infrastructure. Authorities described the event as a “technical accident” and stressed that there was no threat to public safety beyond the affected industrial zone.

QatarEnergy confirmed that an explosion and subsequent fire broke out at the facility on Sunday evening. Emergency response teams were immediately dispatched to the site and managed to bring the blaze under control after several hours of firefighting operations.

Search-and-rescue teams continued to comb through damaged sections of the facility on Monday as efforts intensified to locate 18 workers reported missing following the explosion. Medical authorities said 54 people sustained injuries ranging from minor burns and smoke inhalation to more serious trauma.

Several of the injured were transported to hospitals in Doha and nearby cities for treatment, while specialized industrial safety teams began assessing the structural integrity of affected facilities.

Officials have not yet released details regarding the nationalities of those injured or missing.

The Barzan gas plant plays a critical role in Qatar’s energy network. With a production capacity of approximately 1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day, the facility supplies fuel to power stations, desalination plants, and industrial users across the country.

In addition to pipeline gas, the facility produces ethane, condensate, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and sulfur for both domestic consumption and export markets.

The plant is located within Ras Laffan Industrial City, the heart of Qatar’s liquefied natural gas industry and one of the world's largest energy export complexes. Ras Laffan hosts the country's LNG export infrastructure, which has long positioned Qatar among the world's leading natural gas exporters.

Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the precise cause of the explosion. Preliminary assessments suggest the incident may have been linked to equipment malfunction during operational start-up procedures, though officials have emphasized that it is too early to draw definitive conclusions.

Industrial safety experts and engineering teams from QatarEnergy are participating in the inquiry, while regulators are reviewing operational records and maintenance documentation from the facility.

The accident comes at a sensitive time for Qatar's energy sector. The country has been working to stabilize and expand production capacity after portions of its energy infrastructure sustained damage during regional hostilities linked to the recent U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran.

Industry analysts are closely monitoring the situation to assess whether the latest incident could affect domestic gas supplies or export operations. QatarEnergy has so far indicated that LNG exports from Ras Laffan continue to operate, though officials have not yet provided a detailed assessment of damage to the Barzan facility.

Global energy markets are also watching developments closely, given Qatar’s strategic role in supplying liquefied natural gas to Asia, Europe, and other international markets.

Qatari authorities sought to reassure residents after reports emerged that a loud explosion had been heard in Doha, located south of the industrial complex. Officials stated that emergency response measures had successfully contained the incident and that air quality monitoring showed no immediate danger to surrounding communities.

Further updates are expected as rescue operations continue and investigators work to determine the cause of one of the most serious industrial accidents to hit Qatar’s energy sector in recent years. (ILKHA)