Explosion at Qatar factory in Ras Laffan injures 54, 18 missing

DOHA, Qatar — An explosion at a factory in Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, north of the capital Doha, injured 54 people and left 18 missing, the Qatari Interior Ministry said on Wednesday. The ministry said the blast was caused by a technical malfunction during operations at the facility. Search and rescue efforts are being conducted jointly by the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group, part of the Internal Security Force, and Civil Defense teams. Civil Defense personnel continued efforts to contain the fire and limit the impact of the explosion, the ministry said. The injured have been transferred to nearby hospitals, and security measures in the area have been increased. Officials said an investigation is underway to determine the exact cause of the incident. The ministry added that it would provide regular updates to the public as developments unfold.