54 injured and 18 missing after explosion at Qatar LNG site, authorities say

RAS LAFFAN INDUSTRIAL CITY, QATAR - MARCH 3: A picture of Qatar Energy's operating facilities on March 3, 2026 in Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar. Qatar Energy announced a complete halt to liquefied natural gas (LNG) production at its Ras Laffan and Mesaieed facilities on March 2, 2026, after Iranian attacks targeted energy facilities. (Photo by Getty Images) Getty Images | Getty Images News | Getty Images Fifty-four people have been injured while 18 are missing after an explosion at Qatar's core liquefied natural gas processing site of Ras Laffan on Sunday, authorities said. An incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City resulted in an explosion and fire at the Barzan local gas supply facility on Sunday evening, QatarEnergy said in a statement. Emergency response teams were deployed to contain the fire, which was now under control, it said. Fifty-four people had been injured and rescue teams were looking for 18 missing people, Qatar's Interior Ministry said in a statement. It attributed the explosion to a "technical accident" and said there was no threat to public safety. QatarEnergy did not indicate whether the explosion had caused any damage to the plant, which supplies gas to the domestic market. A Reuters witness earlier reported that a loud boom was heard in the capital Doha, south of the Ras Laffan facility. …