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, reported Reuters citing QatarEnergy authorities.

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.