DOHA, Qatar — A technical incident at a factory in Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial Zone caused an explosion on Sunday, injuring a number of workers, with civil defence teams quickly responding to contain the situation at the major liquefied natural gas production hub.
The Qatari Ministry of Interior confirmed that the explosion occurred at a facility in the industrial city, located approximately 80 kilometres north of the capital Doha, and was the result of a “technical fault” during operations. According to the ministry, the incident resulted in several injuries, though authorities emphasised that no dangerous gas leak was reported.
Residents of some Doha neighbourhoods felt strange tremors resembling an earthquake, with windows and doors shaking in buildings following the blast. The tremors were felt across parts of the capital, prompting concern among residents before authorities issued their official statement.
QatarEnergy later confirmed that the explosion occurred at the Barzan gas plant in Ras Laffan, a facility that supplies natural gas to the domestic market. The company stated that the incident was an operational error during start-up operations and that the fire had been brought under control.
Civil defence teams were immediately dispatched to the scene and are continuing to manage the aftermath of the explosion. The Ministry of Interior stated that specialised rescue teams remain on site, and investigations are underway to determine the exact cause of the technical failure.
The Ministry of Interior stressed that there was no significant gas leak or environmental threat identified, and that the situation remains under control. “The incident resulted from a technical fault during operation at one of the factories in the Ras Laffan Industrial Area, and resulted in a number of injuries, without any leakage posing a danger to the safety of individuals,” the ministry stated.
Ras Laffan Industrial City is Qatar’s principal processing facility for natural gas from the North Field, one of the world’s largest gas deposits, making it a vital component of the country’s energy infrastructure. The facility is central to Qatar’s liquefied natural gas production and export business.
The blast draws attention because of the strategic importance of the site. In March, QatarEnergy had preemptively evacuated local personnel from Ras Laffan after Iran threatened to attack Gulf energy facilities. Today’s incident, however, has been attributed to an internal technical failure rather than any external aggression.
The explosion comes just days after the facility was targeted by Iranian-backed groups in the previous conflict between the United States and Iran, though officials have ruled out any connection to those earlier events.
As investigations continue, authorities have not disclosed the extent of the damage or the specific condition of those injured, but have assured the public that there is no ongoing threat to surrounding buildings or citizens.
