DOHA, QATAR (VINnews) – An industrial explosion at Qatar’s massive Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas plant left 18 workers missing and at least 54 others injured early Sunday, authorities said.

Qatar’s Interior Ministry described the blast as a “technical accident” and said emergency teams were continuing search and rescue operations at the facility, located about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Doha.

The ministry did not immediately release the nationalities of those affected or provide further details on the cause of the explosion, which occurred overnight.

Ras Laffan is one of the world’s largest LNG production sites and a cornerstone of Qatar’s economy. The plant is operated by QatarEnergy in partnership with international energy companies.

No information was immediately available on the extent of damage to the facility or whether production had been impacted.

The injured were transported to local hospitals for treatment, the ministry said. Search efforts for the missing workers were ongoing.

Further updates were expected as the investigation continues.