Major explosion at Qatar's Ras Laffan gas hub leaves 54 injured, 18 workers missing | Video

A massive explosion rocked Qatar's strategic Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening, leaving at least 54 injured and 18 workers missing.

The blast, which sent a plume of smoke and an intense orange glow into the sky, occurred at the Barzan local gas supply facility during startup operations.

State-owned energy giant QatarEnergy and the Qatari Ministry of Interior both confirmed the incident, stating that emergency services immediately rushed to the scene to extinguish the resulting fire.

According to official statements from the Interior Ministry, the explosion was the result of an internal "technical malfunction" during operations rather than external interference. Energy officials specified that the incident occurred as teams were initiating startup processes at the Barzan plant.

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Initial reports from civil defence teams brought some relief to nearby residential zones, with authorities confirming that no hazardous chemical or gas leaks had been recorded that would threaten public safety.

The blast was powerful enough to be heard in parts of Doha, located roughly 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the industrial hub, and eyewitnesses nearly 20 kilometres away reported seeing massive flames illuminating the northern coastline.

Strategic value of Ras Laffan

The Barzan gas facility is a key part of Ras Laffan Industrial City, the centre of Qatar's energy industry and one of the world's largest LNG production and export hubs.

Although authorities said Sunday's explosion was caused by a technical fault and not an external attack, the incident raised concerns because the facility is strategically important and has faced disruptions linked to recent regional tensions.

The blast briefly unsettled energy markets before QatarEnergy said the situation had been brought under control and operations stabilised.