Doha, 22 June (H.S.): At least 54 people were injured and 18 others remained missing after a powerful explosion ripped through Qatar's Ras Laffan industrial area on Sunday night, triggering a major fire at one of the country's key natural gas facilities.

The explosion occurred as workers were attempting to restart operations at the Barzan gas supply facility following disruptions caused by the recent Iran-Israel conflict. Authorities said emergency teams were immediately deployed to contain the fire and conduct search and rescue operations for the missing workers.

State-owned energy company QatarEnergy confirmed that the explosion and subsequent fire broke out at the Barzan facility, a major component of Qatar's natural gas infrastructure. While the full extent of the damage has not yet been determined, officials said investigations into the cause of the blast are underway.

The Interior Ministry initially reported only a small number of injuries, but later revised the casualty figures, confirming that 54 people had been injured while 18 others were still unaccounted for several hours after the incident.

The Barzan facility has the capacity to produce nearly 1.4 billion standard cubic feet of sales gas per day. The gas is primarily used to generate electricity and power desalination plants that supply fresh water across the country. Any prolonged disruption to operations could affect domestic energy supplies and add pressure to global natural gas markets.

Qatar had suspended production and export activities at the facility during the recent regional conflict after Iranian military actions disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. As tensions eased and diplomatic efforts continued, authorities had begun restoring operations when Sunday's explosion occurred.

The Ras Laffan industrial complex is one of the world's largest liquefied natural gas hubs, making it a critical part of Qatar's economy and the global energy supply chain. Energy analysts said any extended shutdown could create uncertainty in international gas markets, particularly for countries dependent on Qatari LNG exports.

Qatar shares the world's largest offshore natural gas field with Iran in the Persian Gulf. Revenue from the country's vast gas reserves has transformed Qatar into one of the world's leading energy exporters and enabled it to play a significant role in international diplomacy and regional affairs.

Officials have not indicated whether the latest explosion was linked to sabotage or equipment failure. Search operations, damage assessments and technical investigations were continuing on Monday as authorities worked to restore safety at the site.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar