EXPLOSION AT QATAR LNG FACILITY INJURES 54, LEAVES 18 MISSING

An explosion at Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar's principal liquefied natural gas processing facility, has injured 54 people and left 18 others unaccounted for, Qatar's Ministry of Interior reported on Monday. The blast occurred at the Barzan factory within the industrial complex, which the ministry attributed to a technical malfunction. The Qatari International Search and Rescue Group was deployed to conduct search operations for those missing. QatarEnergy, which operates the facility, stated that emergency response teams were immediately deployed and brought a resulting fire under control.

Ras Laffan Industrial City, located approximately 80 kilometres north of Doha, houses the world's largest liquefied natural gas export facility, producing roughly one-fifth of global supply. The ministry said the explosion caused no leakage from the facility that would endanger public safety. Earlier statements from officials indicated that civil defence teams responding to the scene had initially recorded no injuries, a position later contradicted by the ministry's updated casualty figures. The incident occurred four months after the industrial hub sustained what the Qatari government described as significant damage following Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Following the March attacks, QatarEnergy invoked force majeure clauses in supply contracts with customers in Italy, Belgium, South Korea and China, citing inability to meet obligations. The nature of Monday's explosion and its potential impact on LNG supply operations remained under investigation. QatarEnergy did not immediately provide further details regarding operational status at the facility.