A major explosion hits a natural gas export facility in Qatar’s Ras Laffan industrial area during start-up or restart operations, according to multiple outlets. Reports say at least 54 people are injured and 18 others remain missing hours after the blast. Several sources describe the incident as occurring at or around the Barzan gas facility, which is part of Qatar’s LNG and gas export infrastructure. QatarEnergy is cited as saying the explosion happened during start-up operations and that it poses no risk to the public. Workers are reported to have been trying to restart facilities when the explosion occurred, and the blast is described as causing a fire. Some outlets also connect the restart context to earlier disruptions in the region, including references to Iran-related attacks, while others focus on the immediate accident and emergency response. Several reports note that because Qatar is one of the world’s leading natural gas producers, disruptions at such infrastructure could have implications for global energy markets. Authorities continue to investigate the cause and account for missing individuals.