Qatar’s interior ministry said an explosion resulting from a “technical accident” occurred on Sunday at a factory in Ras Laffan, an industrial city north of the capital Doha and site of the country’s core LNG processing operations.

It said several injuries were reported but no leak that “threatens safety”.

The ministry did not give the exact location of the explosion.

But, QatarEnergy confirmed that the operational incident during the start-up of operations at Ras Laffan Industrial City, saying it resulted in an explosion at its Barzan gas supply facility.

QatarEnergy said fire at the factory was under control after the deployment of emergency response teams to contain the blaze.

From 20 kilometres south of Ras Laffan on Qatar’s north coast, an AFP journalist saw flames illuminating the night sky and a plume of smoke rising from the area, home to the world’s largest liquefied natural gas hub.

Pakistan’s embassy in Qatar expressed concern over the incident, saying it “stands in solidarity with Qatar”.