Doha, Jun 22 (V7N) – At least 54 people were injured and 18 others remain missing following an explosion at a gas processing facility in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, the country's Interior Ministry confirmed on Monday.
According to authorities, the explosion occurred at the Barzan Gas Factory and was caused by a mechanical fault. In response, the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group has been deployed to conduct search operations for those still unaccounted for.
The Interior Ministry said preliminary investigations indicate that the incident was the result of an internal mechanical failure. Officials also assured the public that there had been no leakage of gas or any hazardous substance that could threaten public safety.
QatarEnergy, which oversees operations in the industrial zone, said emergency response and firefighting teams were dispatched immediately after the explosion. The resulting fire was brought under control within a short period, preventing further damage.
Rescue workers and emergency personnel continue to assess the site while authorities investigate the exact cause of the explosion.
Located approximately 80 kilometers north of Doha, Ras Laffan Industrial City is the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export hub and plays a critical role in global energy markets, supplying nearly 20 percent of worldwide LNG exports.
The industrial city had previously suffered significant damage during missile and drone attacks earlier this year, prompting QatarEnergy to invoke force majeure clauses on several international supply contracts, affecting gas shipments to countries including Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims, and search operations for the missing workers remain ongoing.
END/SMA/AJ
