Amman, June 22 (Petra) -- The Qatari Ministry of Interior announced that 54 people were injured following an explosion at a factory in the Ras Laffan Industrial City.

According to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), the ministry said in a statement on Monday that the Qatar International Search and Rescue Group of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), in coordination with civil defense teams, is currently carrying out search operations for 18 missing individuals.

The ministry had earlier indicated that the incident was caused by a technical malfunction during operations, and confirmed that no hazardous leak occurred that would pose a threat to public safety.

//Petra//WH