Technical malfunction results in internal explosion at Ras Laffan Industrial City factory in Qatar, leaving several injured
Doha, June 22
A technical malfunction during operations at a factory in Ras Laffan Industrial City in Qatar triggered an internal explosion and fire, leaving several people injured, according to Qatari authorities.
In a series of statements posted on X, Qatar's Ministry of Interior said the incident occurred due to a technical issue at a factory in the industrial city, prompting an immediate response from Civil Defence teams.
"An internal explosion occurred at a factory in Ras Laffan Industrial City due to a technical incident. Civil Defence teams are handling the incident, with no injuries or leaks reported that may pose a threat to public safety," the ministry said in its initial statement.
However, in a subsequent update, the ministry confirmed that several people had sustained injuries.
"Further to the previous statement, the incident was caused by a technical malfunction during operations at a factory in Ras Laffan Industrial City. A number of injuries were reported, with no leaks posing a threat to public safety. The competent authorities are continuing to respond to the incident," the ministry stated.
Meanwhile, QatarEnergy confirmed that the explosion and fire occurred during the start-up of operations at the Barzan local gas supply facility within Ras Laffan Industrial City on Sunday evening.
"QatarEnergy confirms that there was an operational incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City which resulted in an explosion and fire at Barzan local gas supply facility in the evening hours of Sunday 21 June 2026," the company said in a statement on X.
The energy giant said emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the blaze and that the fire has since been brought under control.
"Emergency response teams were deployed immediately to contain the fire, which is now under control. QatarEnergy will continue to communicate the latest available information," the statement added.
Authorities have emphasised that no leaks resulting from the incident pose any threat to public safety, while investigations and response efforts remain ongoing.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Qatar's safety protocols usually seem top-notch, but technical malfunctions can happen to the best. Barzan facility is critical for local gas supply. Let's hope they investigate thoroughly and prevent recurrence. Our countries share knowledge on LNG safety, so this is concerning.
Hope all the workers, especially the Indian expats there, are safe. Qatar has a large Indian workforce. Authorities should ensure proper compensation and medical care. 🙏
These industrial accidents remind us of Bhopal gas tragedy. But Qatar has better safety standards generally. Still, any injury is sad. Technical malfunction excuse sounds vague - hope they share exact cause.
As someone working in oil & gas industry, startup operations are always risky. Good that QatarEnergy responded quickly. But injuries show need for better pre-startup checks. Safety first always.
At least no environmental leak. Barzan is a key facility for Qatar's local gas needs. Indian engineers working there should take this as learning for our own LNG terminals. Safety audits need strengthening across the Gulf. 🤔
Prayers for injured. 🇮🇳 Qatar's industrial safety has improved but still gaps. Our safety auditors should collaborate more with them. Technical malfunction means root cause analysis needed - not just move on.