Qatar blast news: 54 injured, 18 missing at Ras Laffan factory; The Ministry of the Interior calls it a “technical accident” | Today’s news

A powerful explosion hit Qatar’s main natural gas export terminal on Sunday night as workers tried to restore operations after Iranian attacks during the war. The incident sparked a large fire that injured at least 54 people while 18 others remained missing for several hours.

Qatar’s interior ministry said the explosion was caused by a “technical accident”. A Reuters witness also reported hearing a loud explosion across Doha, underscoring the scale of the incident.

The explosion occurred in the Ras Laffan industrial area, a critical hub for Qatar’s energy sector, raising concerns about further disruption to global energy markets, according to the AP. Qatar is one of the world’s leading producers and exporters of natural gas.

Production had previously been suspended after Iran’s restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz severely disrupted shipping routes and prevented Qatar from supplying energy to international customers.

(This is a developing story. More to come)