An explosion occurred late Sunday at the Barzan gas plant in Ras Laffan, an industrial city north of Doha and the site of Qatar's core LNG processing operations and main natural gas export terminal. A loud boom from the blast was heard in Doha.
Qatar's Interior Ministry described the incident as a technical accident and malfunction. Other reports indicated that an operational error occurred while workers were attempting to restart facilities at the industrial complex. Despite the blast, the ministry stated that there is no leak that threatens safety.
Authorities have reported that at least 54 people were injured, while 18 others remain missing. Search and rescue operations are ongoing to locate the missing individuals.
The site had been shut down for weeks after being targeted by Iran during the war. Because Qatar is one of the world's top natural gas producers, the blast at Ras Laffan could lead to further chaos in global energy markets.